The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Industrial Development and Engineering Company (BIDEC) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote the adoption of BIDEC’s patented and locally developed technology for converting conventional capacitor-type ceiling fans into energy-saving BLDC fans among Bangladesh’s garment factories, a press release said.

The MoU was signed at the BGMEA office in Dhaka by Vidiya Amrit Khan, Vice President, BGMEA, and Kazi Mohammad Ibrahim, CEO, BIDEC. The partnership aims to connect BGMEA member factories with an innovative patented technology that can support energy optimisation, reduce electricity consumption and contribute to the sector’s decarbonisation efforts.

BGMEA has been closely assessing the technology at member factories over the past several months. Trials involving different types of existing fans across more than 42 factories have indicated efficiency gains of approximately 47% to 65%. These practical factory-level results have been an important basis for BGMEA’s confidence in the potential of the initiative.

“This initiative is a strong example of how local innovation and young entrepreneurship can respond to real industrial challenges. The results we have observed across more than 42 factories give us confidence that this technology can create meaningful energy savings for our members. We see this as an opportunity to support factories in their energy optimisation and decarbonisation journey while also strengthening the role of Bangladeshi innovation in sustainable industrial development.”

Vidiya Amrit Khan, Vice President, BGMEA, Under the partnership, BGMEA members will have access to special pricing offered by BIDEC for the upcycled fans. The MoU provides for discounted pricing for BGMEA members, while the technology is supported by a five-year guarantee. Based on the observed efficiency improvements and expected electricity savings, the investment may offer a feasible payback period of around 1.5 to 2 years, depending on factory-specific operating conditions and electricity consumption.

“Energy efficiency is no longer only an environmental issue; it is increasingly a business and competitiveness issue for our factories. If a practical local technology can deliver 50% or more efficiency improvement, and a potential 1.5 to 2-year payback, it becomes a very relevant solution for our members. At the same time, reducing electricity consumption across a large number of factories can contribute to addressing the broader energy pressures Bangladesh is facing.”

Shah Rayeed Chowdhury, Director, BGMEAThe initiative is expected to help factories reduce operating costs and improve energy performance while responding to the growing sustainability expectations of international buyers and global markets. It also aligns with the wider transition of Bangladesh’s RMG industry towards resource efficiency, decarbonisation and more competitive production.

The significance of the initiative extends beyond individual factories. With Bangladesh facing continued pressure on electricity and energy supply, reducing avoidable electricity consumption through scalable energy-efficiency solutions can contribute to national energy security. The BGMEA-BIDEC partnership therefore seeks to demonstrate how industry-level efficiency measures and local technological innovation can jointly support both industrial competitiveness and national priorities.