The U.S. apparel imports data by the country from January-September of 2023 and 2024 suggests that while the overall U.S. apparel import saw a slight decline, there was significant movement within the market, with some countries experiencing growth and others declined. Total U.S. apparel imports decreased by 2.47% between Jan-Sep 2023 and Jan-Sep 2024, said Mohiuddin Rubel, former Director of BGMEA and Additional Managing Director, Denim Expert Ltd. Among all the reported countries, a substantial decrease in imports from Bangladesh is concerning, which is -6.29%. This is a significant drop compared to other major suppliers, he said. However, the decline was even higher in the January-August period, meaning that a significant growth in import from Bangladesh was achieved in the month of September 2024. Several countries showed growth in apparel imports to the U.S., including Vietnam (1.27%), Cambodia (7.15%), and Pakistan (2.41%). This suggests a shift in sourcing patterns. Varied performance of different apparel-exporting countries, indicate a competitive global market which has been significantly driven by price and supply chain stability, Rubel said.

Representatives from the Buyers' Forum met with BGMEA Administrator Md. Anwar Hossain at the BGMEA Complex in Uttara, Dhaka today to discuss the current state and sustainable growth prospects of Bangladesh's garment industry. Members of the BGMEA Support Committee also attended the meeting. The discussions focused on key issues facing the garment industry, including strategies to further boost Bangladesh's garment exports. Md. Anwar Hossain expressed gratitude for the continued support from global brands and emphasized the industry's progress in workplace safety, environmental sustainability, and worker welfare, urging brands to promote these achievements internationally. Representatives from major global brands sourcing from Bangladesh, including H&M, Marks & Spencer, VF Corporation, Gemo, Celio, Gap, OUS, Auchan, CSS, Allure Sourcing, Otto International, and El Corte Inglés, were present at the meeting, underscoring the collaborative effort to drive sustainable growth in the sector.

One more readymade garment (RMG) factory of the country has achieved the recognition of the LEED certification this month, raising the number of the LEED certified factories to 230. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a globally recognised green building rating system that emphasises environmental responsibility and energy efficiency. The recognition of the LEED certification refers to underscoring the country's commitment to green initiatives within the garment sector, said Mohiuddin Rubel, additional managing director of Denim Expert Ltd and former director of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). Of the 230 certified factories, 92 have achieved the highest, platinum rating, 124 have earned gold, 10 silver and 4 are certified, as reported by the BGMEA. The newly certified factory is Cotton Field BD Ltd. Admin Building on Sataish Road in Rajnagar area in Gazipur’s Tongi. The factory secured the platinum category with a score of 86. Bangladesh’s achievement positions the country as a leader in the global sustainable fashion movement, with 62 out of the 100 LEED-certified green factories worldwide located here, according to BGMEA. This includes 20 out of the top 20 LEED-certified factories globally, based on BGMEA data. The geographic distribution of these certifications within Bangladesh illustrates the RMG industry's widespread commitment to sustainability. Despite the challenges posed by the global economic landscape, along with the current national and geopolitical developments, Bangladesh’s RMG industry continues to demonstrate resilience and an unwavering commitment to sustainable growth. This progress in achieving such a significant number of LEED certifications highlights the industry’s proactive approach to enhancing environmental sustainability and reinforcing its position as a reliable sourcing destination, said a BGMEA media release.

Proactive steps are necessary to support Ready-Made Garment (RMG) workers who are at risk of unemployment as automation continues to grow in Bangladesh’s garment sector. In the next two years, 80% of garment factory owners in Bangladesh plan to invest in automated machines, according to data from research which was presented by LightCastle Partners at a dialogue event held in Gulshan. This was presented at an event at a hotel in the capital’s Gulshan on Monday organised by  LightCastle Partners, an international leading business consultancy firm, in partnership with Policy Exchange Bangladesh. Automation in the sector is expected to grow by over 13% during this period. Despite the increase in efficiency and projected production increases of up to 22%, concerns about rising unemployment persist. Out of an average of 2,250 workers per factory, only 500 are expected to be directly involved with automation processes, leaving many workers at risk. Automation, while presenting challenges for the workforce, is also key to enhancing the industry’s global competitiveness. Govt plans to introduce pension for RMG workers: Asif Advanced technologies can significantly boost productivity, improve quality control, and lower operational costs, ensuring that Bangladesh’s RMG sector maintains its competitive edge internationally. Embracing automation allows the industry to meet increasing demand for high-quality products with shorter lead times—critical for international buyers. Zahedul Amin, co-founder and director of LightCastle Partners, delivered a keynote presentation titled "Future-Proofing RMG: Tackling Automation for Sustainable Growth and Worker Wellbeing." He highlighted the need for a balanced approach that supports industry competitiveness through automation while safeguarding the workforce through upskilling and reskilling initiative. The event emphasized the need for urgent action to address the potential impacts of automation on the workforce, calling for recommendations that ensure sustainable growth while protecting the livelihoods of garment workers. During his presentation, Zahedul Amin shared findings from a recent research that showed 93% of garment operators in Bangladesh are willing to work with automated machines, with 70% of female workers expressing interest in gaining new skills for operating modern machinery. All RMG factories except 3 open in Savar, Ashulia, Gazipur Dr. M Masrur Reaz, Chairman of Policy Exchange Bangladesh, moderated the dialogue, where industry leaders and experts discussed the pressing issues. Kazi Faisal Bin Seraj, Country Representative of The Asia Foundation, delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing the need for collective action to future-proof the RMG industry. The speakers highlighted a range of strategies for ensuring the RMG sector’s resilience in the face of technological changes, including prioritizing the procurement of updated technologies, enhancing occupational safety, and implementing upskilling and reskilling programs to transition workers into new roles. According to data from the Export Promotion Bureau, Bangladesh ranks second globally in ready-made garment exports. In the 2023 fiscal year, Bangladesh exported $47 billion worth of garments. The RMG sector contributed 10.35% to the country’s GDP in 2023, employing 4.1 million workers, 60% of whom are women. As Bangladesh's garment industry faces transformative changes, LightCastle Partners remains at the forefront of developing strategies that combine technological advancement with worker protection, ensuring a sustainable and competitive future for the sector.

Only three garment factories out of 1278 were closed in Savar, Ashulia, Gazipur on Wednesday. There was no significant disruptions in the garment industry in the major hubs including Savar, Ashulia, Narayanganj, and Gazipur, according to a government source. Only one factory out of 401 in Savar and Ashulia areas was closed while in Gazipur, one factory out of 871 was closed, according to a government source. Moreover, one out of 301 factories in Dhaka metropolitan area remained closed. RMG workers’ protests disrupt traffic in Dhaka’s Mirpur All factories in industrial hub Narayaganj remained open. According to data, the overall operation rate in Savar-Ashulia areas was high, with 99.76% of factories open. The closure rate stood at 0.24%. In Gazipur, the ratios was 99.89 percent and 00.11 percent respectively.   Narayaganj witnessed  100 percent operation of factories. Dhaka city saw a 99.97 percent opening while 00.33 percent closure.

The industries adviser to the interim government, Adilur Rahman Khan, has warned that anyone attempting to shut down factories to destabilise the government and harm the economy will be remembered. "The government will implement special measures to tackle the labour unrest in ready-made garment (RMG) factories," said Adilur, while speaking at a views exchange meeting on "Ongoing crisis in RMG factories and potential solutions" held at BGMEA Building in Uttara on Saturday. The meeting also unanimously decided that all garment factories in the country will be open from tomorrow (Sunday). However, for the sake of the country and its industries, and to protect jobs, if the workers in a  particular factory do not work, leave the factory without working, or create chaos in the factory, only then the owner of that factory can take steps according to the labour Act 13 (1) or no work no pay basis. BGMEA president Khandaker Rafiqul Islam presided over the view-exchange meeting with three of the advisers of the interim government - Industry adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, Fisheries and Livestock adviser Farida Akhtar and Labor and Employment adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Labor Secretary A HM Safiquzzaman, Major General Moin Khan, NDC, PAC, GOC, Ninth Infantry Division, head of  Industrial  Police Sigat Ullah, BKMEA President, Past Presidents of BGMEA, Board of Directors members of BGMEA and general members of BGMEA participated in the event.

Despite the announcement of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) to open all the readymade garment (RMG) factories in Ashulia and Bypail from today, around 40 factories closed after opening in the morning due to unrest.The overall situation in the area, however, has improved compared to the last few days. Yesterday around 70 factories were forced to close after opening in the morning due to security reasons.“The situation on Tuesday is much more normal compared to previous days. Most factories opened this morning. Some factories have been closed since yesterday, and due to an unsuccessful meeting between the factory owners and the workers, about 21 factories declared a holiday today (Tuesday),” said Md Sarwar Alam, superintendent of Industrial Police-1. There are 2145 member factories of BGMEA across the country. Except Ashulia and Bypail areas, production in all factories in other parts of Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Chattogram are in full swing. The production of around 68 factories out of 407, was once again hampered on Monday due to labour unrest in the Ashulia and Bypail areas.The BGMEA president Khandoker Rafiqul Islam told UNB that they are determined to keep open garment factories in Ashulia and other parts of Gazipur. But some factories had to close today due to unrest.The valid demands of workers will be met and the law enforcement forces, factory owners, and BGMEA representatives are working together to improve the situation, he said.

Most garment factories in Ashulia industrial area returned to production on Sunday as workers joined the work. The workers of various garment factories including those at Dhaka EPZ joined their respective factories this morning. However, workers of two to three garment factories are still observing strike today. In Ashulia's Narsinghpur area, production has stopped due to declaration of general holiday in several factories. Meanwhile, police have confirmed the arrest of four more people in connection with the workers' unrest. Sarwar Alam, Superintendent of Ashulia Industrial (Police-1) said there was no problem anywhere in this area. However, there is trouble inside some factories where the management is unable to resolve the problems within the organization, he added. Four people were arrested on Saturday on suspicion of involvement in destabilizing the garment sector. They are Motaleb Hossain, 25, of Debiganj of Panchagarh district, Salim Reza, 21, of Panchbibi of Joypurhat district, Md Rusel, 23, of Char Fasson of Bhola district and Liton Kumar Das, 23, of Atrai of Naogaon district. Apart from this, the members of the army, BGB, RAB and our industrial police remain vigilant in the places where there is a possibility of unrest.

Despite extensive efforts to keep garment factories operational, around 45 factories in the Ashulia and Bypail areas were forced to close on Saturday due to ongoing labor unrest. However, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has announced that all garment factories will remain open on Sunday, operating as usual. Speaking to UNB, BGMEA President Khandoker Rafiqul Islam expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the army and industrial police in ensuring security for industrial production. "We appreciate the role of the army and industrial police in safeguarding our factories," he said. Despite reopening all garment factories on Saturday morning, 45 of them had to shut down again by 10 am due to disruptions caused by external agitators, he noted. BGMEA Director Shovon Islam added that while most factories across the country remained operational on Saturday, the Ashulia area faced issues related to salary payments. BGMEA is working closely with the government to resolve these problems quickly, he said. He expressed optimism that production in garment factories would resume fully from Sunday and that the unrest would gradually subside. To address security concerns, the BGMEA has established a coordination cell involving the army, industrial police, intelligence agencies, factory owners, and other law enforcement bodies. This area-wise setup is designed to respond swiftly to any incidents of insecurity or unrest, ensuring the stability of factory operations.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has decided to keep all garment factories open like regular times. Though around 120 garment factories in Ashulia’s Bypail areas had remained closed on Thursday, BGMEA decided to keep factories open like normal time, said Shovon Islam, Director of BGMEA, after a meeting on the latest situation of the industry on Thursday evening. BGMEA expressed gratitude to the Army, police, and residents of Ashulia, Bypail, Abdullapur, Tongi, and Gazipur for their support in ensuring that both factory owners and workers could continue their activities without major disruptions. Another BGMEA director, speaking to UNB on condition of anonymity, revealed that external agitators attempted to sabotage several RMG factories in the Ashulia area on Thursday. These disturbances forced the shutdown of approximately 120 factories that had initially opened in the morning, he explained. The director further alleged that a workers’ group associated with former minister Shajahan Khan was behind the unrest, making unreasonable demands and inciting disturbances in the factories. Following the arrest of several young workers linked to this group, the detainees reportedly confessed to police that they were being paid and provoked by certain individuals to carry out attacks on the factories. According to sources, garment factories in Gazipur and other areas, aside from Ashulia, remained open and operated as usual.