Although Bangladesh is the world’s second-largest exporter of readymade garments, it continues to struggle with major challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, cumbersome bureaucracy and murky regulations.

In trade, as in life, one decision from far away can unravel years of careful effort.

Automation has reduced the need for human labour in the production process of the garment sector by nearly 31 percent by mostly replacing helpers, according to a study.

Garment exports by Bangladesh’s market rivals like India, Vietnam, China and Cambodia have increased to major Western markets due mainly to the latest spell of labour unrest and political changeover earlier in August in the country.

After more than a month of disruption due to the political changeover and subsequent labour unrest in major industrial belts, international apparel retailers and brands are returning to Bangladesh with work orders for upcoming seasons.

Every time a Western consumer walks into the store and checks the manufacturing source, they don’t question the quality, but the ethical integrity of the product.

The latest spell of unrest in the garment industry of Bangladesh will negatively impact its apparel exports as many international buyers are cancelling their trips to the country to finalise work orders for the coming seasons.

We need to look at what the business community needs from our state and non-state institutions.

Garment factories kept production suspended on July 20 and decided to keep the units closed  on July 21 as well considering the safety of the workers and the factories amid ongoing countrywide violence and curfew imposed by the government

British retail giant Primark’s CEO Paul Marchant has praised the development Bangladesh’s garment sector has achieved in production of apparels in green factories.

Despite a lot of emphasis by policy-makers on cutting dependence on a single product for exports over the years, the share of readymade garments has increased gradually, putting external sales, jobs, and the economy as a whole at risk. 

Apparel exporters yesterday voiced their dissatisfaction with the 1 percent cash incentive handed to them in the proposed budget for

Arif Hossain* has been worried about his future since his name and photo was put on a list of “suspended” workers outside his garment factory in Ashulia in the middle of January.

About half of the industrial disputes that took place last year were in the garment sector, according to the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS).

In a victory for labour unions, a global clothing brand has agreed to pay $2.3 million to meet fire and building safety regulations in 150 garment factories across its supply chain in Bangladesh, unions say.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signs a $30-million loan deal with Brac Bank, which will be used to finance the construction and upgrade of garment factories in Bangladesh.

A 49.5 percent remediation works in the factories under the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety (Alliance) is completed, as recommended by the experts to ensure workplace safety.