Textile Today Industry Research Team has met Mohammad Hasan, Executive Director of Babylon Group. And many industry insights came out from the conversation.
Textile is a huge revenue generating sector where often many important issues are ignored. However, the government and owners are aware now about workers, environment, fire, and building safety etc., Babylon group is such an industry where these good practices are highly present.
Babylon Group started their journey in 1986 with a vision to excel in businesses by upholding ethical values, pursuing the policy of continual improvements on products, services, the welfare of their people, being very responsible in regards to polluting the environment by adopting improved and latest manufacturing methods. They have 20 sister concern industries with huge production capacity.
Recently Textile Today Industry Research Team has met Mohammad Hasan, Executive Director of Babylon Group. And many industry insights came out from the conversation between the team and Mohammad Hasan, most illuminating parts are revealed here for the readers.
Textile Today: What is the specialty of Babylon Group which distinguished it from others?
Mohammad Hasan: Babylon Group is all along quality conscious and the message is drilled very clearly from top to bottom. I’m proud to say that this is our one of the main strengths. Our vision is to give maximum quality products to the customer with the optimal price range. Our quality team works independently so that they can take the action plan and decision properly and effectively.
In the recent past years, we faced utility problems acutely, though, now the electricity availability is better than before. Recently government is taking the initiative to import LNG gas, which is expensive, on the other hand, workers basic salary is going to increase about to double or more. Considering all these adverse situations I don’t think new investors will feel safe. The government should handle this situation very carefully as this textile business is hope of millions of people in Bangladesh.
Textile Today: Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) initiative aspires to make sure zero discharge to hazardous chemicals by 2020. Why do you think it is important?
Mohammad Hasan: Keeping in mind the environmental issues, we recently doubled our ETP capacity from 100 to 200 per hour. I think it’s a remarkable footprint that goes align to ZDHC goals for 2020. This is important because if anyone wants to take environmental clearance from top brands they have to meet the ZDHC requirements within around 2020.
So, we are working on aiming that target. We have top branded dyeing machineries which are very water efficient and productive. We also try to use less hazardous chemicals that requires less effort to treat. Environment and mass people should not be over looked, responsible people and government should take proper initiatives to save our earth and business should be ethical. Again, buyers also should be strict about environmental issues.
Textile Today: Babylon Group has 4R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle & Recover) policy for waste management, could you please share us about the project?
Mohammad Hasan: Currently we are only recycling polythene under this project. We recycle the used polythene and produce new usable products, though, we do not use these for garments packaging as it may not be hygienic. These polythenes are mainly used for the in-house temporary purpose. Babylon Group also had a paper mill where we usually recycled the used papers for further use. We are more focusing on this project to make this planet waste free.
Textile Today: Babylon Group is already in fashion retail business with the popular brand “TRENDZ”, how do you see the prospects of this business in Bangladesh?
Mohammad Hasan: Firstly, one should come in this business whatever the profit is because it always keeps you one step ahead of others. We had that vision and that is why from 2004 we started “TRENDZ”, which is now a leading fashion brand of Bangladesh. This business concept is changing with the taste of consumers, though the fast fashion concept is making this business more acceptable to the consumers as we also have to run with the new design and fashion. Fashion trade is being diverted to online following consumers’ purchasing behavior.
Textile Today: Bangladesh industry is in deep utility problem but many more economic zones are being established and foreign investors are coming here. What is your opinion about this?
Mohammad Hasan: It’s good that Bangladesh is drawing many FDI but it’s also alarming for us. Because we are just expanding our business but not considering many vital issues like the environment, workers living standard, utility availability etc. In the recent past years, we faced utility problems acutely, though, now the electricity availability is better than before.
Recently the government is taking the initiative to import LNG gas, which is expensive, on the other hand, workers basic salary is going to increase about to double or more. Considering all these adverse situations I don’t think new investors will feel safe. The government should handle this situation very carefully as this textile business is hope of millions of people in Bangladesh.
