[🇧🇩] Textile & RMG Industry of Bangladesh

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Chinese investors urged to invest in man-made fibre

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association president Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu on Sunday urged Chinese investors to invest at man-made fibre, technical textile and synthetic fibre sector in Bangladesh...

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Chinese investors urged to invest in man-made fibre
Staff Correspondent 27 April, 2026, 01:47

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association president Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu on Sunday urged Chinese investors to invest at man-made fibre, technical textile and synthetic fibre sector in Bangladesh.

He said that Bangladesh’s woven fabric import market, valued at $8-9 billion annually, would offer significant opportunities for the Chinese investors.

He revealed it during a meeting with a 20-member high-level delegation from the China Dyeing and Printing Associaation that visited the BGMEA Complex in the capital, said a press release.

The Chinese delegation included senior officials from the China National Textile and Apparel Council and CDPA, along with chairmen and general managers of leading dyeing, printing, finishing, and chemical manufacturing companies.

The BGMEA president said that the Chinese companies could invest either independently or through joint ventures, with BGMEA offering full strategic support.

He also highlighted that, following the signing of an economic partnership agreement with Japan, Chinese investors in Bangladesh could benefit from duty-free access to the Japanese market.

Discussions centred on potential areas of collaboration, particularly Chinese support and direct investment in modernising Bangladesh’s textile sector.

Mahmud Hasan Khan described China as a long-standing and reliable trade partner and a major source of raw materials and machinery for Bangladesh’s garment industry.

The BGMEA president also stressed the importance of technology transfer, particularly in advanced areas such as digital printing and synthetic fabrics.

He called for regular technical training and knowledge-sharing initiatives to enhance local capabilities between the two nations.

They also discussed leveraging China’s expertise in environmentally sustainable dyeing technologies to strengthen Bangladesh’s green transition in the apparel sector.Bangladesh political commentary

To strengthen business connections, the BGMEA asked the Chinese delegation to share detailed profiles and production capacities of participating companies, which would be shared with its members.

The visiting delegation also toured several dyeing and printing factories in Bangladesh during their Dhaka visit, with BGMEA assuring full cooperation.

Both sides expressed a strong commitment to working together to advance the sustainable development of the textile and apparel industries in both countries and to achieve mutual growth.

BGMEA vice-president Shehab Uddoza Chowdhury, directors Majumdar Arifur Rahman, Rumana Rashid, and Mohammad Sohel were also present during the meeting.​

 

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The Financial Express | First Financial Daily of Bangladesh

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4 new factories get LEED certification

BSS

Published :
May 03, 2026 17:02
Updated :
May 03, 2026 17:02

Four more ready-made garment (RMG) factories in Bangladesh have achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, further consolidating the country’s position as a global leader in sustainable apparel manufacturing.

With the latest additions, Bangladesh now has a total of 284 LEED-certified RMG factories, including 121 with Platinum rating and 144 with Gold rating. Notably, the country is home to 52 of the world’s top 100 highest-rated LEED-certified factories, reflecting significant progress in environmentally responsible industrial practices.

The newly certified factories are: Pahartoli Textiles Limited, Unit-02, located at Ispahani Complex in North Pahartali, Chattogram, secured a Platinum rating under the LEED BD+C: New Construction v4 system with an impressive score of 86 points;

Welldone Apparel Ltd, situated in Baraider Chala, Sreepur, Gazipur, earned a Gold rating under LEED O+M: Existing Buildings v4.1, scoring 75 points.

Everbright Sweater Ltd., based in Kathgora, Zirabo, Ashulia, Savar, Dhaka, achieved a Platinum rating with 83 points under LEED O+M: Existing Buildings v4.1.

Siam Computerized Elastic Industries Ltd.-MUMTEX, located in Surabari, Gazipur, also attained a Platinum rating under the same system, scoring 84 points.

Industry leaders have welcomed the new certifications, noting that they underscore Bangladesh’s commitment to sustainable development, energy efficiency, and environmentally responsible production.

Talking to BSS, Mohiuddin Rubel, former Director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Additional Managing Director of Denim Expert Ltd., said the continued growth in LEED-certified factories demonstrates the sector’s proactive approach to adopting green technologies and international standards.

He said Bangladesh’s RMG sector, which accounts for the lion’s share of the country’s export earnings, has in recent years placed increasing emphasis on sustainability.

“Factory owners have invested heavily in energy-efficient machinery, water conservation systems, waste management, and improved workplace environments,” he added.

Mohiuddin Rubel emphasized that alongside celebrating these advancements, greater attention should be given to ensuring that such achievements receive proper value and recognition in the global market.

He noted that international buyers and partners should fairly appreciate and support environmentally responsible manufacturers, which would further encourage the growth of sustainable practices in the industry.

The LEED certification, awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council, is globally recognized as a benchmark for green building practices.

Achieving Platinum and Gold ratings requires meeting rigorous criteria in areas such as energy use, indoor environmental quality, sustainable site development, and resource efficiency.

Industry analysts say Bangladesh’s leadership in green garment factories not only enhances its global competitiveness but also responds to growing demand from international buyers for environmentally compliant supply chains.

The steady rise in LEED-certified factories highlights the country’s transition toward a more sustainable and responsible apparel industry, aligning with global climate goals while maintaining its status as one of the world’s top garment exporters.​

 

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Apparel makers to seek clarity on US cotton tariff deal

Bangladeshi garment exporters will today ask visiting US trade officials in Dhaka to clarify how a promised zero reciprocal tariff will apply to apparel made with American cotton and other US textile inputs.

www.thedailystar.net

Apparel makers to seek clarity on US cotton tariff deal

USTR officials arrive for talks on reciprocal tariff deal implementation and ongoing investigations into overcapacity and forced labour issues.


Refayet Ullah Mirdha

Bangladeshi garment exporters will today ask visiting US trade officials in Dhaka to clarify how a promised zero reciprocal tariff will apply to apparel made with American cotton and other US textile inputs.

The provision is included in the US-Bangladesh Agreement on Reciprocal Trade signed in February this year, but exporters say they have yet to benefit from it.

“We will raise this issue with the USTR high-ups in the meeting tomorrow [Tuesday],” said Mahmud Hasan Khan, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

A delegation from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), led by Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch, will visit Dhaka from May 5 to May 7.

In a statement issued ahead of the visit, the US Embassy in Dhaka said the United States looks forward to partnering on the implementation of the reciprocal trade agreement. The delegation is expected to discuss ways to strengthen trade and investment ties.

Under Article 5.3 of the reciprocal trade agreement, the United States commits to establishing a mechanism allowing certain textile and apparel goods from Bangladesh to enter the American market at a zero reciprocal tariff rate.

The deal says that a to be specified volume of apparel and textile imports from Bangladesh may qualify for the reduced rate. That volume will be determined in relation to the quantity of US-produced cotton and man-made fibre textile inputs exported to Bangladesh.

However, BGMEA President Khan said Bangladesh is not currently enjoying the benefits in the US market.

He said the zero-duty facility would be the main agenda at the scheduled meeting between the visiting officials and BGMEA leaders in Dhaka.

A senior commerce ministry official said the USTR delegation will also meet Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir at the secretariat today. Discussions are expected to cover the reciprocal trade deal, broader bilateral trade matters, labour rights and intellectual property.

The USTR is currently conducting two investigations covering 60 countries, including Bangladesh. One is about forced labour in industrial units, while the other relates to industrial overcapacity that could hurt the US manufacturers.

In a position paper submitted to the commerce ministry recently, BGMEA said the Bangladesh garment industry does not have overproduction capacity that could harm the American manufacturing sector and is free from forced labour, as exporters comply with internationally recognised labour laws.

The association said that in a market-driven economy, production levels constantly adjust to shifts in demand, input costs and supply chain conditions. Determining “excess capacity” without clear parameters or methodology is a major challenge.

According to USTR data, US goods trade with Bangladesh totalled an estimated $11.8 billion in 2025. US imports from Bangladesh stood at $9.5 billion, up 13.3 percent from 2024, while US exports to Bangladesh were $2.3 billion, up 1.4 percent.

The US goods trade deficit with Bangladesh was $7.1 billion in 2025, a 17.9 percent increase from the previous year.

Garments account for 86 percent of Bangladesh’s exports to the United States.

In its position paper, BGMEA said the Bangladesh apparel sector has not expanded suddenly or in a way that would indicate structural excess capacity. The industry growth should be viewed over the long term.

Over the past decade, the sector has followed a steady growth path, it said, driven by global demand and shifting sourcing strategies rather than policy-induced expansion.

After more than four decades of development, Bangladesh exported garment products worth $39.3 billion in fiscal year 2024-25, accounting for nearly 7 percent of the global apparel market. It is now the world’s second-largest garment exporter after China.

In 2025, Bangladesh accounted for 10.73 percent of US apparel imports by volume and 10.53 percent by value, according to the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA).

This week, a separate USTR report said Bangladesh has stayed off the latest US intellectual property rights watch lists. However, Washington urged Dhaka to strengthen enforcement to prevent unfair trade practices.

In its annual Special 301 Report, the USTR identified 26 trading partners with concerns over intellectual property protection and enforcement.​

 

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