Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening Bangladesh’s textile and ready-made garment (RMG) industries by assuring continued policy support and forming a high-level committee to address the challenges facing the textile sector.
In separate meetings held at the Bangladesh Secretariat, delegations from the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) discussed the current state of the country’s largest export-oriented industries, highlighting key challenges and proposing policy reforms to enhance global competitiveness.
During the meeting with BTMA leaders, the Prime Minister formed a high-level committee to review and address the issues confronting the textile industry. The BTMA delegation discussed the sector’s export potential, ongoing challenges and the need for supportive policies to sustain growth and improve Bangladesh’s competitive position in international markets.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman praised the textile industry’s significant contribution to industrialization, employment generation and export earnings, and assured the association of the government’s continued support.
The BTMA delegation was led by President Shawkat Aziz Russell and included Vice-President Shamim Islam, former President A. Matin Chowdhury, former Director Syed Enayet Kabir, Engineer Rajib Haider, Directors Chowdhury Mohammad Hanif Soyeb and Badsha Mia, Helal Mia, Chairman of Amanat Shah Group, and Samiul Islam, Managing Director of Munnu Fabrics.
In a separate meeting, the BGMEA Board of Directors, led by President Mahmud Hasan Khan, discussed a broad range of policy issues affecting Bangladesh’s ready-made garment industry, including customs and bond management, banking support, port efficiency, energy supply and export logistics.
BGMEA urged the government to ensure uninterrupted gas and electricity supplies to export-oriented factories, simplify customs bond audits through professional audit firms, establish a temporary cargo shed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, allocate land in Gazipur for a specialized workers’ hospital, simplify compliance with the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC).
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman appreciated the RMG industry’s contribution to the national economy and assured BGMEA of continued government support to safeguard the sector, simplify policy procedures, sustain factory operations and facilitate the reopening of closed factories.
The BGMEA delegation also invited the Prime Minister to inaugurate BATEXPO 2026 as the Chief Guest, an invitation that he graciously accepted.
The back-to-back meetings with the country’s two leading textile and apparel trade bodies reflect the government’s growing focus on addressing industry concerns through closer public-private collaboration. Industry leaders expressed optimism that the proposed policy measures and institutional support would strengthen Bangladesh’s competitiveness, attract new investment and sustain export growth amid evolving global trade and sustainability requirements.
