Leaders of Bangladesh’s two largest apparel trade bodies met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday, urging stronger policy support, uninterrupted energy supply and measures to sustain the country’s export competitiveness as the ready-made garment sector navigates mounting global and domestic pressures.
The delegation from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) paid a courtesy call on the prime minister at the Cabinet Division office inside the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka, according to officials from the Prime Minister’s Office.
During the meeting, the business leaders discussed the current state of Bangladesh’s ready-made garment and knitwear industries, future export opportunities and the challenges affecting factory operations and trade expansion, Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony said.
Senior government officials, including Industries Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon, PM’s Adviser and spokesperson Mahdi Amin and Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, were also present.
The apparel sector, which accounts for more than 80% of Bangladesh’s export earnings, has been facing rising production costs, energy shortages and increasing pressure from global buyers demanding faster lead times and greater sustainability compliance. Industry leaders told the premier that uninterrupted gas and electricity supply has become critical for maintaining production schedules and shipment commitments.
BGMEA and BKMEA leaders also sought easier customs procedures, faster release of export proceeds from banks and support for reopening factories that remain shut due to financial stress.
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BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan reportedly emphasized the need for export diversification and stronger policy backing to help the sector remain competitive amid a slowing global economy and evolving trade dynamics. Industry insiders say Bangladesh’s garment manufacturers are increasingly focusing on higher-value apparel products, man-made fiber garments and sustainable manufacturing practices to retain market share in Europe and North America.
Bangladesh remains the world’s second-largest apparel exporter after China, but manufacturers have recently warned that inconsistent energy supply and logistics bottlenecks could affect production capacity and delivery performance. Earlier this year, BGMEA leaders said factories in major industrial belts such as Gazipur and Ashulia were experiencing production losses of up to 30% due to gas and electricity shortages.
The meeting with the prime minister comes at a time when the new administration under Tarique Rahman is engaging with key business stakeholders to accelerate economic recovery, improve the investment climate and strengthen export-oriented industries.
Since assuming office in February, Rahman’s government has signaled plans to reduce regulatory burdens, reform taxation and improve logistics infrastructure to attract investment and support industrial growth.
Trade analysts said the interaction between the government and apparel industry leaders reflects the strategic importance of the RMG sector to Bangladesh’s economy, employment and foreign exchange earnings. The sector employs more than four million workers, most of them women, and remains one of the country’s largest industrial employers.
Bangladesh’s garment exporters are also preparing for major changes in the global trading environment as the country moves toward graduation from the United Nations’ Least Developed Country (LDC) category in 2026. The transition is expected to reduce some trade preferences currently enjoyed by Bangladeshi exporters in international markets, increasing pressure on manufacturers to improve productivity, compliance and operational efficiency.
Industry representatives have repeatedly urged the government to continue providing policy incentives, infrastructure support and financing assistance to ensure a smooth transition during the post-LDC period. Recent meetings between BGMEA leaders and senior ministers focused on sustaining export growth, maintaining global competitiveness and strengthening long-term economic resilience.
Officials familiar with Monday’s meeting said the prime minister assured the business leaders that the government would continue working closely with the apparel sector to address operational challenges and support export growth, recognizing the industry’s central role in Bangladesh’s economy.
The discussions also highlighted the growing importance of sustainability, energy efficiency and industrial modernization as Bangladesh seeks to strengthen its position in the global apparel market amid rising competition from regional manufacturing hubs.
