Bangladesh is taking a significant step toward transforming its construction sector with the development of the “Green Building Certification Framework (DESH),” a nationally tailored system aimed at promoting sustainable, climate-resilient, and resource-efficient buildings.
The framework has been developed by the Housing and Building Research Institute (HBRI) with support from the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), under the leadership of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works (MoHPW). It forms part of the broader initiative titled “Transforming the Built Environment through Sustainable Materials in Bangladesh.”
A recent stakeholder consultation marked a key milestone in the framework’s development. The session brought together representatives from government, academia, and industry, focusing on technical validation and collaborative development of the certification system.
Despite the availability of existing national and international certification systems, the DESH framework—designed specifically for Bangladesh—received strong support from stakeholders. Participants highlighted its contextual relevance, practical applicability, and alignment with the country’s climate and development priorities, with no significant opposition raised during or after the consultation.
The DESH framework adopts a comprehensive approach, incorporating elements such as climate resilience, energy efficiency, water management, sustainable materials, and occupant health. Its design aims to balance technical standards with practical usability across Bangladesh’s rapidly expanding construction sector.
Officials from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and HBRI stressed the importance of increasing awareness and visibility of the framework nationwide. Broader public and institutional understanding will be crucial as the initiative moves into its next phase, which will include further consultations and a public review process.
The upcoming phase will focus on ensuring that the DESH framework is not only technically sound but also widely accepted and adopted across sectors, supporting Bangladesh’s transition to a low-carbon and sustainable built environment.
The initiative reflects a growing national commitment to align construction practices with climate goals, strengthen local capacity, and develop a certification system suited to Bangladesh’s environmental and socio-economic context.