The Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh is a target country within the SMEP Programme. In 2023, Bangladesh became the fastest-growing economy in the world, with a 7% average GDP growth over the past decade. Today, the country is the second-largest exporter of ready-made garments in the world, with the industry constituting 84% of the total export market. The leather sector is the country’s second largest export market, commanding 3% of the global leather and leather products market. Additionally, the three-wheeler rickshaw powered by lead-acid batteries continues to boom as a e-mobility solution to Bangladesh’s growing urban population.

But despite their economic importance, these sectors pose major challenges to environmental and human health, impacting millions of people and children in Bangladesh. This factsheet showcases some of these challenges as well as the various SMEP-funded projects operating in Bangladesh working towards addressing them.