Bangladesh’s textile industry faces an unprecedented disruption as the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) announced on Thursday that all textile mills will remain closed indefinitely from February 1, citing a lack of effective government support for domestic yarn producers.
At a press conference held at the BTMA office in Karwan Bazar, President Showkat Aziz Russell highlighted the severe financial distress facing mill owners. “From February 1, the factories will be closed. We are unable to meet bank obligations,” Russell said, describing the capital erosion and mounting debt that have made continued operations unsustainable.
BTMA officials emphasized that repeated appeals to relevant government ministries have not yielded meaningful action. The association criticized bureaucratic delays, noting that responsibility has been repeatedly shifted between departments, leaving mill operators without clear policy guidance or relief measures.
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Industry leaders warn that the closure of spinning mills could trigger a significant disruption across Bangladesh’s textile supply chain. Rising production costs, gas shortages, and increasing competition from imported yarn have already strained local operations. A prolonged shutdown could exacerbate job losses and threaten the country’s export-oriented garment sector, which relies heavily on domestic yarn supplies.
The announcement highlights the urgent need for targeted policy interventions, including financial support and regulatory reforms, to safeguard Bangladesh’s textile industry, a vital contributor to the nation’s economy and the global apparel supply chain.
