AKH Knitting & Dyeing Ltd. (AKDL) – a mega knitting project at Lalitnagar, Dhamrai – will play a noteworthy role to attain Bangladesh’s $100 billion apparel export target by 2030.
Recently AKH Group inaugurated its most sustainable and eco-friendly unit — AKH Knitting & Dyeing Ltd. (AKDL) Extension Unit – where the country’s readymade garment (RMG) and textile industry leaders stated this remark.
The grand inauguration event was attended by the country’s top textile and apparel leaders and govt. representatives, as well as, dignitaries of top financial institutions, local and foreign banks, Country representatives of buying houses, other business icons, AKH Group’s leaders and employees to celebrate the milestone achievement.
As the Chief Guest, Md Benzir Ahmed, MP of Constituency Dhamrai 20 and President Dhaka District Awami League graced the event.
While, Special Guests – Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, MP of Constituency Dhaka-10 and former President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI); Faruque Hassan, President, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA); Shabnam Jahan Shila, MP of Constituency 303 and General Secretary Central Committee, Bangladesh Mohila Awami League were also present.
In the program, AKH’s top brass – including, Md Shamsul Alam, Managing Director, AKH Group; Md Abul Kashem, DMD, AKH Group; Delwar Hossain, Chairman, AKH Group were present. Around 500 guests from the RMG and textile industry graced the program to be a part of this milestone moment.
Faruque Hassan in his speech hailed AKH for its extraordinary work in Bangladesh’s textile and apparel industry for the last 17 years.
“As Bangladesh apparel industry aspires to export $100 billion by 2030 – AKH Group’s mega knitting project will tremendously aid us to attain this milestone. And I personally know AKH’s leaders for more than 30 years and their work is phenomenal for our apparel industry. I believe, they will achieve unparalleled success in this regard,” Faruque Hassan added.
Chief Guest, Md Benzir Ahmed said, “I am proud that this sustainable and eco-friendly landmark project is in my constituency. This will certainly change the socio-economic status of my people. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to AKH Group and I wish them success.”
Shabnam Jahan Shila, MP said, “Bangladesh is moving forward at a great speed and AKH Knitting & Dyeing Ltd. (AKDL) extension unit is another feather in this economic journey of the country. We all have to keep this development trend moving through such initiatives. I thank AKH Group for such a mammoth initiative.”
Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin said, “AKH Group has set a benchmark example in the apparel industry. And I want to express my special thanks to the three founders of AKH Group – as their perseverance and vision have led the Group to the pinnacle of success.”
Md Shamsul Alam, Managing Director, AKH Group said, “This extraordinary LEED Gold Certified AKDL Extension Unit is amongst the most advanced and versatile knitting units of Bangladesh.”
“We three founders were determined in our short journey to make AKH Group an exemplary organization to deliver better products and exclusive services as per customers’ demands and expectations.”
“In this quest, the AKDL extension unit is built as a center of brilliance by any standard of today and tomorrow,” said Md Shamsul Alam.
Md Abul Kashem, DMD, AKH Group said, “We started our journey back in 1997. In the span of two decades, AKH is now a leading name in Bangladesh’s textile and apparel industry. I want to express my special thanks to my buyers and suppliers who helped us in our journey.”
Delwar Hossain, Chairman, AKH Group said, “I am chuffed that over the years AKH Group has become a symbol of Bangladesh’s textile and apparel industry – as a leading backward and forward entity.”
“Most importantly, this astonishing AKDL Extension Unit is among the most advanced and versatile knitting units in Bangladesh. At the same time, AKDL Extension Unit is fully eco-sustainable in design, construction, operations, maintenance and manufacturing which is the demand of the present-day world. It has also achieved USGBC LEED Gold Certification,” Delwar Hossain added.
Lt. Colonel (Rtd.) Shahriar Kabir, Plant Head, AKH Knitting & Dyeing Ltd. (Extension Unit) said, “We had many challenges and difficulties in our extension unit’s journey. But nothing is impossible and with AKH’s very good leadership we can accomplish one of the most advanced and versatile knitting units in the country.”
Knitting capacity
AKDL Extension Unit is a mega knitting factory with 50 tons capacity. It has 156 state-of-the-art sophisticated, energy-efficient circular knitting machines from Europe and Japan to produce a variety of high-quality knit fabrics such as Single jersey, Pique, Lacoste, Terry, Fleece, Rib, Interlock, Engineering Stripe, etc.
Moreover, for uninterrupted fabric production and supply, AKDL Extension Unit has a 2200 tons capacity of yarn and a 1000 tons grey fabric warehouse.
The Extension Unit boasts of having 550 skilled and experienced workforces striving to deliver better products.
Rooftop solar for an uninterrupted power supply
Recently, AKDL Extension Unit has successfully installed a 2.8MW rooftop solar project for an uninterrupted uniformed power supply. This mega-scale rooftop solar project is one of its kind in Bangladesh which is capable to produce 3650 Mega Watt of electricity annually. This huge solar project meets the project’s entire electricity demand in the daytime. It contributes the surplus electricity to the National grid from the social responsibility purview.
Rainwater harvesting
AKDL Extension Unit has an innovative rainwater harvesting system to reduce pressure on groundwater. It collects water from its massive 1 lac 80 thousand square feet rooftop area through an underground integrated pipeline network. The system filters and deposits the water to a reservoir with a capacity of 8 lac liters.
A maximum of this conserved rainwater is sent to AKH Knitting & Dyeing Ltd.’s Dyeing facility by its own tank lorry for use in the fabric dyeing process. Perhaps AKH Knitting & Dyeing Ltd. is the first factory to take the strain to carry over the rainwater from a distance – from its Extension Unit to its dye house.
Sewage Treatment Plant
AKDL Extension Unit has set up a Sewage Treatment Plant with a standard Sequential Batch Reactor Sewage Treatment Technology to treat wastewater and sewage. The discharged water after treatment is recycled and used as toilet flushes and watering the garden that consists of over 8000 trees in the 40 acres of land around the project.
Workers well-being
AKDL Extension Unit provides 24/7 medical facilities for workers’ well-being. It also has indoor and outdoor sports and recreational facilities to boost the morale and working spirit of our workers.
In addition, the knitting floor of the AKDL Extension Unit is sustainable and fully humidified to acclimatize the knitting ambiance and atmosphere by Luwa Italy for a healthier and more productive indoor environment. As a result, the factory premise remains pollution free and workers get a healthy and clean work environment.
Not only, but it also ensures that no harmful dust is thrown out into the environment that can cause serious health hazards to the inhabitants living in the surrounding area.
