The United Kingdom’s trade envoy to Bangladesh, Baroness Rosie Winterton DBE, visited Unilever Bangladesh Limited’s (UBL) Kalurghat factory in Chattogram alongside British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke and a senior team from the mission.

UBL’s leadership—including Chairman and Managing Director Zaved Akhtar, Chief Finance Officer and Finance Director Zinnia Huq, Corporate Affairs, Partnerships and Communications Director Shamima Akhter, and Head of Factory S M Tareq Saifullah—briefed the delegation on operations, safety protocols and sustainability initiatives.

Established in the early 1960s, the Kalurghat site has evolved from a soap line into a central manufacturing hub, producing over 21 brands, with more than 96% of them made locally. The government holds a 39.25% stake in UBL, reflecting a longstanding public–private partnership.

The factory has maintained a “zero waste to landfill” record since 2014 and achieved 100% renewable energy certification since 2021. Process improvements since 2010 have saved an estimated 2.4 billion litres of water.

During the tour, the delegation visited production lines and discussed sustainable manufacturing practices with the plant staff. UBL outlined plans to modernise the site further and highlighted programmes on climate resilience, plastic reduction, digital inclusion and community empowerment aligned with national development priorities.

Winterton and Cooke noted UBL’s role in long-term UK investment in Bangladesh and its contribution to inclusive, greener growth. Akhtar said the plant’s evolution—from a small soap operation to an automated, sustainability-focused manufacturing facility—mirrors the broader trajectory of Bangladesh’s industrial development.

SMS/