The Centre for Research & Innovation in Science, Arts & Technology (CRISAT) urged tariff protection on imported yarn and stronger government incentives for Bangladesh’s weaving and knitting sectors during an online panel discussion held Friday, while also launching the second season of its national research competition for textile and fashion students.
The recommendations, voiced by panelists at the CRISAT-organized event, reflect mounting pressure on Bangladesh’s textile value chain as the country works to defend its position as one of the world’s largest garment exporters while global buyers push for shorter lead times, greater transparency and a shift toward more sustainable materials.
The panel, titled “Bangladesh Textile Futures 2030/35: Solving Problems & Unlocking Potentials,” ran from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM Bangladesh time and drew roughly 50 participants, including university teachers, researchers, students and industry professionals from across the country. The session doubled as the official launch of the CRISAT Research Competitions for Textile & Fashion Students — Season 2 (2026).
Panelists included Prof. Dr. Engr. Ayub Nabi Khan, vice chancellor of BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology (BUFT); Prof. Dr. Engr. ANM Ahmed Ullah of Southeast University; Prof. Dr. Mohammad Forhad Hossain of Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX); Engr. Dewan Saiful Alam Masud, chairman of the A-A-M Committee at the Hong Kong Garment Chamber of Commerce; Engr. A.S.M. Hafizur Rahman Nixon, secretary general of ITET; and Engr. Sayeed Ahmad Chowdhury, director of operations at Square Denims Ltd. Dr. Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem, founder of CRISAT, moderated the discussion.
A central theme of the panel was the need for closer collaboration between universities and industry to close the gap between academic research and factory-floor practice. Panelists said joint research initiatives, innovation partnerships and skill-development programs were essential to strengthening the sector’s competitiveness, and urged the government to introduce incentives specifically targeted at the weaving and knitting industries to shore up Bangladesh’s backward linkage base.
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On trade policy, speakers recommended tariff measures on imported yarn to encourage manufacturers to source domestically and to protect the country’s spinning, weaving and knitting industries from cheaper foreign competition. The panel also stressed the importance of diversifying both export markets and product portfolios, pointing to high-value, technical and sustainable textiles as growth areas that could reduce Bangladesh’s reliance on traditional basic garment exports.
Beyond the policy discussion, the event formally launched the Five-Minute Research Competition (5MRC) and an accompanying poster competition, giving textile and fashion students a platform to present their research and sharpen their communication skills. The competitions form part of a broader CRISAT initiative running through the year, with final rounds — including the Denim Fashion & Circularity Competition (DFCC) 2026 — scheduled to take place during the 7th Textile Research Conference (TRC 2026) on October 31, 2026, in Dhaka, in collaboration with BUFT.
Registration details and further information on the competitions are available through CRISAT’s official channels. The organization is based in Uttara, Dhaka, and describes itself as a research and innovation body spanning science, arts and technology disciplines.
The panel adds to a growing chorus within Bangladesh’s textile industry calling for policy support as the sector navigates rising competition from regional rivals and shifting global demand for sustainable and technical textiles. Bangladesh remains one of the world’s largest garment exporters, and industry stakeholders have increasingly argued that building out domestic yarn and fabric capacity is critical to protecting margins as buyers demand shorter lead times and greater supply chain transparency.
By pairing a high-level policy discussion with a student research competition, CRISAT positioned the event as an effort to link near-term industry needs with longer-term talent development — a pairing organizers said would be necessary to meet the sector’s 2030 and 2035 goals.
Panelists also noted that Bangladesh’s heavy reliance on imported yarn has long left domestic spinners exposed to global cotton price swings and currency fluctuations, arguing that a more protected local yarn market would give mills greater pricing stability and encourage fresh investment in spinning capacity. Several speakers pointed to Vietnam and India as regional competitors that have used a combination of tariff policy and targeted subsidies to build out backward linkage industries, and suggested Bangladesh could adapt similar tools to its own market.
The discussion further touched on workforce development, with panelists noting that many of the technical skills needed for high-value and technical textile production are not yet widely taught in Bangladesh’s university curricula. Speakers said expanding hands-on training in areas such as technical textiles, nonwovens and smart fabrics would help graduates meet industry demand and reduce the sector’s dependence on foreign technical expertise.
CRISAT’s research competitions are intended to address that gap directly. The Five-Minute Research Competition and poster competition give students a structured format to present original research to industry judges, while the Denim Fashion & Circularity Competition focuses specifically on circular economy approaches within denim manufacturing, a segment where Bangladesh has built a strong export niche. Organizers said the final rounds at October’s Textile Research Conference would give top student entrants direct exposure to industry leaders and potential employers.