On the occasion of the upcoming Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) elections 2025-27, the Forum organized a ‘Meet the Press’ event at the Padma Hall of Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital on Sunday (May 11, 2025). Panel leader Mahmud Hasan Khan (Babu) and top leaders of the Forum were present at the event.
At the event, the Forum leaders said that the country’s garment sector is currently facing various domestic and global adversities. They highlighted the need for long-term and specific policies to address this challenge. In this context, a call was made to form an independent ministry for the garment sector.
In his speech, Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu said, “The country’s largest export sector is the garment industry, which contributes to about 84 percent of foreign exchange earnings. Although it is the main driving force of the economy, employment, women’s empowerment and national development, we still have a long way to go to achieve the desired goals.”
He also said, “BGMEA, as an important trade body, must play a more effective, professional and transparent role in protecting the interests of the industry. The forum believes that to make this organization more dynamic, accountable and modern, positive changes in leadership are needed.”
The forum simultaneously presented 9 important proposals, through which they want to move the garment industry forward on a modern, accountable and sustainable path. The proposals include:
- Formation of a separate ministry for the garment sector:
The government’s policy support for the garment sector must continue. At present, for any matter related to the garment sector, we rely on the Ministry of Commerce. However, due to its various responsibilities, it is unable to devote sufficient time to the garment sector. Therefore, we propose to restructure the Ministry of Textiles into the “Ministry of Textiles and Apparel Industries”. - Maximum support for small and medium enterprises, non-bond factories and new entrepreneurs:
The challenges faced by small and medium entrepreneurs in the apparel sector are long-standing. We need to remember that today’s small businesses can become tomorrow’s major industries. Therefore, low-interest loans, technical assistance and market access funds are of utmost importance. - Accelerating customs automation:
We want to avoid the harassment caused by customs audits. We propose to involve top-ranked audit firms for the audit process and introduce a digital clearance system to reduce time and cost in the export-import process. - Industrial safety, labor rights and environmental protection:
The apparel sector is now 45 years old, yet it is not fully sustainable. To make it sustainable, we need to prioritize industrial safety, labor rights and environmental protection through comprehensive governance and compliance certification systems. - Ensuring genuine exporter membership:
The current membership of BGMEA has crossed 7,000. However, many have been included without maintaining proper standards. This will be strictly monitored by the forum. - Market diversification and product diversification:
The garment market in Bangladesh is mainly limited to the US and EU. Along with market diversification, we want to focus on product diversification, moving towards man-made fibres rather than relying solely on cotton-based products. - Accountability of elected representatives:
Candidates often make numerous promises before elections but fail to fulfill them later. The directors of the forum will be accountable to the members, each overseeing 50-70 factories, similar to the role of relationship managers in multinational companies. - Industrial zone-based crisis management cell:
Currently, the crisis management cell of BGMEA functions centrally. We propose to establish Zonal Crisis Management Cells under the leadership of BGMEA officials and leaders of workers federations and directors of the concerned areas. - Exit Policy:
Currently, there is no structured exit policy for ailing industries. We propose to establish a realistic exit policy in consultation with the Central Bank.
The forum said that a total of 35 director candidates have been selected, 26 in Dhaka and 9 in Chittagong, who are being selected based on a combination of business skills, experience and technology-based thinking. Around this election, they have promised to form a strong, modern and respectable BGMEA.
At the end of the press conference, Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu said, “This industry is the backbone of our economy, but lack of leadership and vision is slowing its pace. We, on behalf of the forum, call on the members—let us all work together to build an efficient, accountable and sustainable BGMEA.”
