Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has assured the country’s industrial community that the government will take prompt and coordinated measures to resolve the challenges facing Bangladesh’s textile sector, including the ongoing natural gas supply crisis that has disrupted industrial production.
The assurance came during the first meeting of the high-level inter-ministerial committee formed to address the textile industry’s pressing concerns. The meeting was held on July 29 at the Prime Minister’s Office conference room in the Secretariat.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister joined the discussions and listened to presentations from government officials and industry representatives. He emphasized the need for timely decisions through consultations with all relevant stakeholders and directed the committee to convene another meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office within the next week to finalize practical solutions.
The Prime Minister also assured participants that the government would take necessary initiatives to mitigate the ongoing gas shortage affecting industries, recognizing its impact on production and export competitiveness.
The committee was established following a meeting on July 22, when a delegation led by Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) President Showkat Aziz Russell met the Prime Minister at his Secretariat office to present the textile sector’s key challenges. Responding immediately, the Prime Minister instructed the formation of a high-level inter-ministerial committee to prepare recommendations for resolving the industry’s problems.
Opening the committee meeting, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said the Prime Minister is fully aware of the difficulties confronting the textile industry and remains committed to addressing them. He noted that the committee was formed to develop practical and realistic recommendations that can be implemented swiftly.
During the meeting, BTMA President Showkat Aziz Russell presented the industry’s major concerns, including energy shortages, rising production costs, and other operational challenges affecting the competitiveness of Bangladesh’s textile sector. Committee members and the BTMA delegation held detailed discussions on possible policy interventions and support measures.
The meeting was attended by Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, the Prime Minister’s Economic and Planning Adviser Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Bangladesh Bank Governor Md. Mostakur Rahman, Acting National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Ahsan Habib, and senior officials from the relevant ministries and government agencies, alongside representatives of BTMA.
Industry leaders view the formation of the inter-ministerial committee and the Prime Minister’s direct engagement as a significant step toward addressing longstanding challenges facing Bangladesh’s textile and apparel value chain, which remains the country’s largest export-earning sector.
