A recent article published by The Guardian, framing the lives of female garment workers in Bangladesh between factory and brothel, is not only offensive but also a gross overgeneralization, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan has said. It risks overshadowing the remarkable transformation of women's empowerment propelled by the nation's RMG industry, he said in a statement, condemning the article that he said “defames women at work.” "It’s true that individual hardships exist, but framing women workers within a single struggle is potentially harming them by provoking radicalism, causing social stigma and mental illness," Faruque said. Such a narrative is a disservice to their lives and dreams they cherish, he said. “The report itself appears to be incorrect to us as it says that the mentioned female worker works for a large factory, it didn’t mention the name; and there is hardly any export-oriented garment factory located at the place as the report mentions, except for a few tailoring facilities catering to the local market only,” he said. “The report does not only perpetuate harmful stereotypes against women at work, but also defames an industry that employs millions of women and contributes significantly to national economy," said the BGMEA chief. Rest of the BGMEA chief's statement Consider this: in a moderate Muslim country, Bangladesh has emerged as a model in the region in women’s empowerment and gender parity, he said. “The World Economic Forum's recent Gender Gap Report places Bangladesh at the top in South Asia for gender equality for the 9th consecutive year, ranking the country 59th globally. “The labor force participation rate of women has soared from a mere 8% in 1983 to a remarkable 38% today. Read: Despite anticipated challenges in 2024, int’l market demand for RMG products could rise: BGMEA Director  “Women’s contribution to Bangladesh's GDP growth is estimated at a staggering 34% and it continues to rise. “For millions of less privileged women having less literacy and skills, the RMG industry is the first formal sector of employment. “Through this industry, women have emerged as the critical support for their families, achieving economic independence and social empowerment. “Early marriage and motherhood are declining, primarily education enrolment is on the rise and as per many experts, the industry has led to increase in girls’ schooling. “Maternal and child health, too, have gained momentum, nourished by improved nutrition and a heightened awareness of healthcare. “The ascent isn't confined to the shop floor. Women are scaling the ranks, their talents are gracing technical departments in the industry like industrial engineering, product designing and merchandising, as well as taking on leadership positions. “When they leave the factories, they leave footprints of entrepreneurial spirit, transforming into owners of their own businesses. Read: Sustainable fashion: Bangladesh's RMG sector leads with 24 new LEED green factories in 2023 “This industry has become a launchpad for leadership. “While writing a report remotely, without having proper understanding of the background and reality, to deliberately portray the bleak picture, one must acknowledge the broader narrative – millions of women rising from poverty, gaining skills, and forging a path towards brighter futures for themselves and their families. “Beyond all these, the industry has taken an unprecedented stance to support aspiring women workers to pursue their dream for higher education. “Currently around 90 young female RMG workers are pursuing higher studies in the Asian University for Women under the Pathways for Promise program. “While the girls pursue their bachelor studies with full scholarship from the university, the employer factories continue to pay the full wages to them throughout the entire tenure of their study. “The ‘promise’ is to make them fearless and think big. Not only that, through this industry women have got the opportunity to emerge as the critical support to the family. “There are numerous instances that the sons and daughters of workers are pursuing higher education in engineering, medical science and many more disciplines through the humble support of the factories. “This is our story, one of transformation, of empowerment, of women rising like threads on a loom, weaving a new Bangladesh. Let us move beyond sensationalized headlines and acknowledge the multifaceted reality of women at work. Read more: Milestone for RMG as Bangladesh becomes top source of Knitwear into EU market “Let us celebrate their achievements, address their challenges, and work towards a future where all Bangladeshi women can thrive, in factories and beyond. “Our garment workers are the heartbeat of our industry, and I, for one, find my strength in their courage, their resilience, and their unwavering spirit. They are the threads that bind our nation together, the driving force propelling us towards a future where gender is not a barrier, but a bridge – a future where Bangladeshi women stand tall, not just as workers, but as architects of their own destinies.”

Despite the anticipated challenges in 2024, there are indications that international market demand for RMG products will rise, a director at BGMEA said today (January 01, 2024).  "If we can uphold internal supply chains, increase investments in new products and markets, we will be able to sustain the desired growth," said BGMEA Director Mohiuddin Rubel in a statement. He said it is difficult to predict the trajectory for 2024, given the uncertainties in the international economic and geopolitical landscape.  BGMEA chief emphasizes innovation, tech upgrade, skills training to retain global competitiveness Factors such as supply chain disruptions and inflation play a crucial role here.  Additionally, there are pressures on the internal economy, including a decline in foreign exchange reserves and the significant challenge of keeping inflation in check, Rubel said.  Furthermore, he said, the protection of industries is very important to attract investments and maintain competitiveness. The global scenario for the apparel sector in 2023 was not as good as 2022.  According to the WTO, global apparel exports reached $576 billion in 2022.  Rubel said, clothing imports from Europe and America have already decreased. Refrain from programmes which hamper country, economy: BGMEA President He said the two main markets for Bangladesh when assessed collectively were not able to put any remarkable impact to "our growth".  On the other hand, Rubel said, RMG exports to non-traditional markets saw a substantial increase.  In summary, he said, growth in non-traditional markets has contributed to the overall growth in Bangladesh’s RMG exports. Sustainable fashion: Bangladesh's RMG sector leads with 24 new LEED green factories in 2023

The import volume of textiles and apparel from Bangladesh by the United States of America (USA) keeps growing with 30.68 per cent rise last year, according to the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), USA. The OTEXA recently published the monthly trade data of the United State of America for the period of January-November, 2021. The US import from Bangladesh during the mentioned period has increased by 30.68% compared to the same period of 2020, whereas their global import saw 25.43% growth, said Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Director Mohiuddin Rubel on Sunday. Also read: BGMEA calls for investment in high value-added, non-cotton textile China being the top import market for USA and having a 24% share of the USA’s total apparel import, posted 27.29% growth during this period, he said. During this period USA's import from Vietnam has grown by 12.73%. Countries which have seen significant growth are - Pakistan 59.30%, Honduras 47.10%, India 35.47%, and Mexico 29.67%. Also read: Textiles lobby at work to secure govt handouts based on 2nd wave