Mahmud Hasan Khan, President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), paid a courtesy call on Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud bin Harun, Executive Chairman of both the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), to discuss avenues for accelerating growth in the country’s vital garment sector.
The meeting, held at the BIDA headquarters, was attended by BGMEA Vice Presidents Mizanur Rahman and Vidiya Amrit Khan, along with Director Samiha Azim. The BIDA Chairman extended his congratulations to the newly elected BGMEA Board and reiterated his commitment to enhancing public-private collaboration to address the sector’s emerging challenges and unlock new growth opportunities.
During the discussion, the BGMEA President highlighted several pressing issues currently facing the industry, including global market instability, high interest rates, and increasing energy costs. He urged the government to implement targeted policy support and infrastructural improvements to ensure the sector’s long-term sustainability and competitiveness.
Key proposals presented by BGMEA included:
- Allocating land at symbolic costs in Chattogram for small and medium-sized garment factories
- Establishing a dedicated integrated garment zone
- Streamlining bond audit procedures to remove administrative hurdles
- Supporting investment in circular economy initiatives and renewable energy, such as textile recycling and solar panel installation
- Extending the loan classification grace period from three to six months
- Forming a dedicated Ministry of Textiles and Garments to meet evolving industry needs
Responding positively, the BIDA Chairman proposed the formation of a joint BGMEA-BIDA committee to develop a time-bound action plan within one week. He also reaffirmed BIDA’s recognition of the garment sector’s pivotal role in national economic growth, employment generation, and export earnings.
He further assured continued government coordination and support to facilitate innovation and investment, particularly in sustainability-focused projects. The meeting marked a significant step toward aligning private sector needs with national policy goals.
This high-level engagement reflects growing momentum toward integrated strategies aimed at future-proofing Bangladesh’s Ready-Made Garments (RMG) sector—the cornerstone of the country’s export-driven economy.
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