Bangladesh Retail Forum, in collaboration with Bangladesh Brand Forum, hosted the 8th edition of SHWAPNO presents Bangladesh Retail Congress powered by Singer and Bata, in association with Konka & Gree (Electro Mart Limited), on April 18, 2026 (Saturday) at Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel, Dhaka. Centered on the theme, Transforming Retail Through Knowledge, the day-long summit brought together leading retailers, brand leaders, supply chain experts, marketers, and industry strategists to explore the evolving dynamics of Bangladesh’s retail landscape and the role of knowledge in driving sustainable growth as stated in the Press Release.
The congress convened a diverse group of industry practitioners, including retail operators, FMCG leaders, apparel sector stakeholders, and business decision-makers, fostering discussions around data-led strategy, consumer insight, operational efficiency, and the integration of technology in modern retail. The summit served as a platform to exchange ideas on building resilient, adaptive, and future-ready retail ecosystems in Bangladesh.
The agenda of Bangladesh Retail Congress 2026 featured 3 Keynote Sessions, 3 Panel Discussions, and 2 Insight Sessions, offering a comprehensive exploration of the forces shaping retail.
Opening the congress, Sajid Mahbub, Group Chief Executive Officer and Executive Editor, Bangladesh Brand Forum; Vice President, Chapter Development- Asia Pacific and Global Director of the International Advertising Association; Chief Digital Officer, Asia Marketing Federation (AMF), remarked, “Retail today is being redefined by how effectively businesses can translate knowledge into action. From understanding consumers to optimizing operations, the ability to learn, adapt, and evolve is what will set future leaders apart in this industry.”
He further added, “As Bangladesh’s retail sector continues to grow in complexity and scale, the need for informed decision-making has never been greater. Platforms like Bangladesh Retail Congress are essential in enabling industry stakeholders to come together, share insights, and collectively shape a more resilient and forward-looking retail ecosystem.”
The keynote sessions featured Ashraf Bin Taj, Managing Director, International Distributions Company Bangladesh PLC.; Board Director, ACI PLC.; Advisor, Asia Marketing Federation (AMF); Board Member, Marketing Society of Bangladesh (MSB)., who discussed the evolving role of distribution partners in driving retail success by adapting to consumer needs and optimizing supply chain operations.”. In another session, Shadman Sadikin, Customer Business Development (CBD), Head, Unilever Bangladesh Ltd, spoke on the importance of embedding purpose at the core of retail to enable a smarter and more sustainable future. Taking a more systems-oriented view, Sami Ashraf, Chief Executive Officer, Omni StrateG, highlighted the need for stronger alignment across channels, data, and operations, emphasizing how synchronized retail ecosystems can better respond to evolving consumer expectations.
Across the panel discussions and insight sessions, the congress explored a wide spectrum of topics including The Future of Retail and the trends shaping Bangladesh, the interplay of purpose, profit, and people in retail decision-making, and the transformation of Bangladesh’s apparel value chain from factory to consumer. The discussions further highlighted the importance of personalization at scale through effective use of customer data, as well as the growing role of technology in managing and optimizing mass retail operations.
The summit featured prominent speakers from across the industry, including Faria Yasmin, Managing Director, Bata Bangladesh; MHM Fairoz, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Singer Bangladesh Ltd.; Dipesh Nag, Managing Director, Grameen Danone Foods Limited; Fahima Akhter, Director, BGMEA; Director, Masco Group; Director, Maria B, Sana Safinaz, Sapphire; Shah Rayeed Chowdhury, Director, BGMEA; Director, Evince Group; Director, Miniso Bangladesh, among others.
Bangladesh Retail Congress 2026 concluded with a strong emphasis on the role of knowledge as the foundation for transformation in retail. The summit provided actionable insights into building agile, consumer-centric, and technology-enabled retail models, while encouraging collaboration across sectors to address emerging challenges. As Bangladesh’s retail industry continues to evolve, initiatives like this congress play a critical role in shaping a more informed, resilient, and future-ready ecosystem for sustainable growth.
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