There are very few local analytical laboratories, including BUET environmental laboratories, which offer testing facilities and services to textile industries and chemical suppliers. The environmental laboratories of the Chemical Engineering department in BUET regularly test a wide range of water, wastewater, sludge, and chemical parameters (Re: Table 1 and Table 3 in 2016 Waste Water Guidelines published by The Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Programme). Because of integrity, accuracy and professional services, BUET test results are well accepted among the local and international clients.

ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) is a new concept. Recently, the Dept. of Chemical Engineering, BUET has been receiving several requests from textile industries and chemical suppliers to provide testing facilities for chemicals such as: alkylphenol, alkylphenol ethoxylates, chlorobenzenes, chlorotoluenes, chlorophenols, azo dyes, carcinogenic dyes, disperse dyes, flame retardants, glycols, halogenated solvents, organotin compounds, perfluorinated and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), ortho-phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and volatile organic compounds, mentioned under the ZDHC MRSL and ZDHC WWRSL lists (Re: Table 2A-2N in 2016 Waste Water Guidelines published by The Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Programme). The laboratory management is considering these requests, and is in the process of developing the capacity to support them. Such kind of capacity building at BUET is both time- and cost- intensive. There is a genuine scope to support existing reliable laboratories at BUET to develop laboratory capacity to analyze ZDHC MRSL and WWRSL chemicals. Such contribution will provide both short-term and long-term benefits to the local textile sector. Under this activity, training programmes will be also organized to educate laboratory technicians on new chemicals, parameters, and new equipment. In addition, a list of existing local laboratories that perform analysis of toxic and restricted substances, parameters typically measured, services and price of services offered will be developed.

Activity 3 will help facilitating sustainable and resilient infrastructure development, and enhancing scientific research and upgrading the technical capabilities of the overall textile sector in Bangladesh, thus complying with SDGs 9.5, 9.a and 12.a.