The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has been honored with the ESSAB Safety Excellence Award 2024 in the ‘Commercial Building’ category. 

This accolade recognizes BGMEA’s commitment to implementing state-of-the-art fire safety measures at the BGMEA Complex, its headquarters located in Uttara, Dhaka.

The award ceremony took place at the 9th International Fire Safety and Security Expo-2024 held at BICC, Dhaka, where Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, MP presented the award to BGMEA. 

ESSAB, renowned for its focus on safety standards, constituted a Specialist Jury Board to meticulously evaluate and physically inspect buildings before conferring the awards.

Thirteen organizations, including BGMEA, were recognized with the ESSAB Safety Excellence Award for their commitment to building code adherence and comprehensive fire safety measures in residential, commercial, and industrial structures.

The state-of-the-art BGMEA Complex, a newly constructed building, is equipped with modern amenities and adheres to stringent safety protocols. 

Notable features include three types of fire pumps, fire hydrant system, sprinkler system, and an auto fire detection system. 

The building has UL-certified fire doors, compliant with the standards of the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC). Additionally, it has an underground water reservoir with a capacity of six hundred thousand liters.

Beyond safety features, the BGMEA Complex is designed to enhance the working environment with spacious offices, an auditorium accommodating 724 people, an innovation center, library, museum, art gallery, health care center, day care center, gymnasium, and a rooftop swimming pool.

In its pursuit of sustainability, the BGMEA Complex is on track to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the US Green Building Council (USGBC). 

The building incorporates energy-saving lights, rainwater harvesting, solar photovoltaics (PV), an energy-efficient water-based chiller system, and a sewage treatment plant (STP). Double-glazed glass is strategically employed to optimize daylight consumption, and the plumbing features LEED-compliant water-efficient fixtures..