A Call for Sustainable Transformation
On January 30, 2025, the Sheraton Hotel in Dhaka hosted “Shaping Bangladesh: Designing Tomorrow, Building Today”, a landmark event organised by Ceramic Bangladesh Magazine. It brought together leaders from construction, real estate, and ceramics to champion sustainability and innovation in response to environmental challenges.
Thought Leadership for a Greener Future
As part of the series “Innovating for a Sustainable Future II”, the multi-panel format featured experts from ceramics, cement, and real estate.
Moderated by Dr. Amir Ahmed of Daffodil International University, the panels included Muhammad Badrul Hassan (BBS Cables), Salehin Musfique Sadaf (GPH Ispat), Architect Faysal Ahmed (Concord Real Estate), AKM Ziaul Islam (Magna Ceramic), Mohammad Khorshed Alam (Akij Bashir Group), Asadul Haque Sufyani (Metro Cement), and Babor Hossain (Khadim Ceramics).
Key Recommendations for Sustainability
Panelists urged greater investment in R&D to reduce reliance on imports and foster local innovation. They called for collaboration across sectors to promote recycled materials and eco-friendly components.
Suggestions included using fly ash and slag in cement, adopting hybrid or electric furnaces, and implementing energy-efficient manufacturing.
Smart Materials and Policy Reform
Experts advocated for smart glass technologies—low-E, solar, and self-cleaning—to boost building efficiency. They also recommended policy reforms to protect local manufacturers from zero-tariff imports and emphasized the need for government-run clay mines to secure raw materials for ceramic production.
Bangladesh’s Tile Industry Comes of Age
AKM Ziaul Islam highlighted the tile industry’s evolution since 1984. “We started with 100 mm tiles in one color. Now, we export to the USA,” he said. Despite high production costs, innovation has improved working conditions and sustainability, making the industry globally competitive.
Real Estate and Domestic Innovation
Architect Faysal Ahmed reflected on the sector’s overreliance on imports between 2000 and 2015. He stressed the importance of collaboration among architects, engineers, and academics to develop sustainable materials locally and reduce dependency on foreign technologies.
Material Optimization for Environmental Impact
Salehin Musfique Sadaf emphasized that optimized material use can reduce emissions and speed up construction. “Using 15,000 kg of cement instead of 20,000 kg without compromising strength means real sustainability,” he explained.
Rethinking Cement and Energy
Asadul Haque Sufyani discussed the carbon footprint of cement production and promoted fly ash and slag as eco-friendly alternatives. He stressed the need for affordable, sustainable materials and energy-efficient technologies.
Energy Crisis and the Future of Glass
Mohammad Khorshed Alam raised concerns about gas shortages affecting glass furnaces. He urged investment in hybrid furnaces and advanced technologies and called on architects to incorporate more locally produced glass to avoid overcapacity and unsold stock.
Ceramic Bricks: A Smarter, Greener Choice
Babor Hossain showcased ceramic bricks’ advantages over handmade red bricks—lower water absorption, higher strength, and reduced structural load. “They were used in national landmarks and can cut construction costs by 13 percent,” he said, advocating for government-run clay mines to sustain innovation.
A Unified Path Forward
The event concluded with a call for synergy among policymakers, industry, and academia. With rising climate risks and infrastructure demands, embracing innovation is not just strategic—it’s essential.
Photo: Courtesy
