As Bangladesh’s textile industry faces mounting pressure to improve competitiveness, productivity and sustainability, closer collaboration between textile engineers, researchers and manufacturers is becoming increasingly important. Engr. Md. Enayet Hossain, President of the Institution of Textile Engineers and Technologists (ITET), outlines his priorities for revitalizing the professional organization, strengthening engineers’ representation in policymaking and expanding the practical impact of the Textile Innovation Exchange (TIE). In this interview with Fashion Business Journal, he discusses how technical expertise, industry–academia collaboration and investment in innovation can help factories address operational challenges and strengthen Bangladesh’s position in global markets.
FBJ: What role can ITET play in addressing the textile industry’s emerging challenges over the next two years, and what are your priorities?
Engr. Md. Enayet Hossain: First, I would like to sincerely thank the textile engineers, particularly ITET members, for supporting our panel in the council election held on June 26.
ITET has an important role in advancing Bangladesh’s textile industry, but the organization has not been sufficiently visible in recent years. Since our new committee took responsibility, we have been working to make ITET more dynamic, active and inclusive. We have taken initiatives to encourage greater participation from textile engineers, and we are beginning to see positive results.
Textile engineers contribute throughout the value chain, from fibre processing to garment manufacturing and exports. Our responsibility is to support these professionals in strengthening their technical capabilities, addressing emerging challenges and contributing to the industry’s sustainable development.
One of our most important priorities is establishing ITET’s permanent headquarters. Although the organization has existed for 43 years, it has operated from rented premises. We have now acquired a 10-katha plot in Sector 15, Uttara, and design work for the proposed building is underway. Completing this project is our primary goal.
Our own premises would provide space for training programmes, seminars, symposiums and professional development activities. We also want to involve university experts and strengthen collaboration between academia and industry.
Over the next two years, we aim to make ITET a stronger platform for professional development, technical knowledge-sharing and industry cooperation, helping textile engineers respond more effectively to the challenges facing Bangladesh’s textile sector.
FBJ: Textile engineers remain underrepresented in policymaking. How can ITET ensure their technical expertise is reflected in decisions affecting the industry?
Engr. Md. Enayet Hossain: This has been a major concern for us from the beginning. Since taking responsibility, we have contacted ministers and officials from several ministries and are working to establish communication with the Prime Minister. We also intend to meet representatives of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).
Textile engineers are not adequately represented in the national bodies responsible for making decisions about the sector. Many people involved in policymaking come from non-technical or other professional backgrounds. Their contributions are important, but the industry also needs the direct participation of professionals who understand its technical realities.
We believe ITET should have a stronger national presence, with representatives included in relevant policymaking bodies and committees.
We have met with the president of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), to present our demands. We have also held discussions with the Director General of the Department of Textiles, the Minister and State Minister of Textiles, and the Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles.
They have generally agreed with our position and assured us that they would work towards ITET’s representation on relevant national committees and at different levels of policymaking.
We hope these efforts will translate into meaningful progress. Stronger representation would allow textile engineers to contribute their practical knowledge to decisions concerning technology, production, sustainability and the industry’s long-term development.
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FBJ: Textile engineers are central to implementing innovations on factory floors. What practical benefits do you expect from the TIE–ITET Innovation & Research Cell, and how can successful solutions reach more factories?
Engr. Md. Enayet Hossain: Textile engineers play a crucial role in turning innovations into practical results. When a new technology or process proves effective in one factory, engineers can help adapt and implement it in other facilities, allowing the benefits to spread across the industry.
Bangladesh has a large textile and garment manufacturing base. TIE is reportedly working on innovation with around 40 industries, but there is considerable scope to extend these initiatives to more factories.
This is one of the important reasons for organizing the expo. It provides an opportunity to showcase innovations and demonstrate how they can be applied in industrial settings.
The objective should not be limited to developing an innovation or presenting it at an event. We must also focus on transferring successful solutions to individual factories and helping them implement those solutions effectively. Wider adoption would enable more manufacturers to benefit from technical improvements and strengthen the industry’s overall performance.
FBJ: Many factory owners view innovation as an additional expense. How can they be persuaded to invest in new technologies?
Engr. Md. Enayet Hossain: Initially, factory owners may believe that adopting new technology will increase their costs. However, I believe these investments can reduce operating expenses over the longer term.
Innovations can help factories save water and electricity, increase productivity, improve operational efficiency, make better use of workforce capabilities and enhance product quality. These improvements can reduce production costs while helping manufacturers deliver better products.
Higher quality and improved product development can also strengthen a factory’s position with international buyers. Manufacturers need to look beyond the initial investment and consider the overall benefits that a technology can deliver over time.
Unfortunately, these long-term advantages are not always immediately apparent to owners and investors. We need to help them understand that innovation is not simply an additional expense; it is an investment in a factory’s future performance, efficiency and competitiveness.
FBJ: Could ITET and TIE establish a structured mechanism through which factories present production problems and engineers and researchers develop and test solutions?
Engr. Md. Enayet Hossain: Yes. ITET and TIE could play an important role in establishing such a mechanism, which would strengthen collaboration between industry and academia.
Factories face practical challenges involving water and energy consumption, production efficiency, product quality, waste management and sustainability. A dedicated platform could connect manufacturers facing these problems with textile engineers, university researchers, technical experts and technology providers.
The process could begin by identifying a specific factory-level problem, followed by collaborative research, pilot testing and evaluation of the results. If a solution proves effective, it could then be adapted for wider implementation.
ITET could help coordinate technical professionals and its industry network, while TIE could contribute through its innovation-focused activities and industry connections. Together, they could facilitate knowledge-sharing, technology transfer and practical problem-solving.
Such a mechanism would require active participation from factory owners, universities, researchers and industry associations. Appropriate arrangements for funding, intellectual property protection and sharing the benefits of successful innovations would also be important.
Our goal should be to build a bridge between industry and research, where factories identify real problems, engineers and researchers develop solutions, and ITET and TIE help bring the two sides together. This approach could improve competitiveness, accelerate innovation and support a more efficient and sustainable textile industry.
FBJ: Global sustainability requirements are becoming increasingly demanding. How can textile engineers help Bangladesh’s industry adapt and remain competitive?
Engr. Md. Enayet Hossain: Textile engineers are already working to promote sustainability across Bangladesh’s textile industry. Their efforts to improve factory operations and maintain the sector’s competitiveness also contribute to more sustainable production.
However, engineers must continue developing their skills and updating their knowledge of modern technologies. I often say that textile engineers need to stay updated just as doctors do. Doctors must learn about new diseases and treatments, while textile engineers must keep pace with technological developments affecting their industry.
New technologies and materials are continually emerging in machinery, products, dyes, chemicals, printing and other areas of textile production. Engineers need to understand these developments and learn how to apply them effectively in factories.
By adopting appropriate technologies and materials, manufacturers can improve production processes and strengthen their sustainability performance. This is particularly important as global markets place greater emphasis on environmental performance, resource efficiency and responsible manufacturing.
Textile engineers therefore have a tremendous responsibility in ensuring the long-term sustainability of Bangladesh’s textile industry. As ITET president, I will do my best to provide the support they need to fulfil that responsibility.
We have been elected to serve on the ITET council, and we will work to support textile engineers in the industry in every possible way. Our aim is to strengthen their professional capabilities, increase their participation and help them contribute more effectively to the industry’s future.
Ultimately, Bangladesh’s textile industry will need both technological progress and stronger professional collaboration to remain competitive. ITET and TIE can contribute by connecting technical expertise with factory-level needs and helping turn innovative ideas into practical industrial solutions.