300 green RMG factories under construction: Tofail

File Photo of Tofail Ahmed
File Photo of Tofail Ahmed

Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed said on Monday that nearly 300 green readymade garment (RMG) factories are under construction apart from existing 67 such factories in the country.

“A total of 67 RMG factories have so far been certified as ‘green factories’ by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), and of them 17 factories are included as the platinum class,” he said replying to a written question from Awami League lawmaker M Abdul Latif (Chittagong-11) in the House, state news agency BSS reports.

The commerce minister also informed that the world’s best seven factories out of the 10 certified by the USGBC are situated in Bangladesh.

He also informed that parliament that there is no direct rule about the green factory in Labour Law and Labour Rules.

“However, as per a compliance report (January 2017-December 2017) of the Factory and Organisation Inspection Directorate, the number of “A Grade” RMG factories are 436 and the “B Grade” are 228,” he said.

Tofail further said the programmes for ensuring compliance by making the RMG factories environment-friendly and including them in “green factory concept” gradually are underway.