Refayet Ullah Mirdha

The market share of Bangladesh in the European Union’s (EU) apparel market increased to 21.57 percent in 2025 from 20.78 percent in 2024 thanks to the rising demand for locally made apparel items in the EU.

Bangladesh shipped apparels worth 19.41 billion euros in 2025 to the EU

The United Nations Committee for Development Policy (UN CDP) has discussed Bangladesh’s request to defer its graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category by three years during its latest plenary session.

The panel discussed Bangladesh’s application at its 28th plenary session today at the UN Headquarters in New York

Bangladesh expanded its footprint in the United States apparel market to 10.53 percent in 2025, up from 9.26 percent a year earlier, as American buyers shifted orders away from China, according to official data.

The government yesterday appointed Md Mostaqur Rahman, a garment entrepreneur, as the governor of Bangladesh Bank for four years, replacing Ahsan H Mansur.

The garment entrepreneur by profession will hold the post for the next four years

Bangladesh shipped apparel worth $8.20 billion out of the $77.88 billion imported by the US last year

The commerce ministry has convened a stakeholder consultation for tomorrow, bringing together economists, trade analysts, business leaders and senior officials from across the government to assess its reciprocal trade deal with the United States and determine the next steps.

Bangladesh’s plea for deferment of graduation from the group of Least Developed Countries (LDC) category is likely to be discussed at the five-day meeting of the UN Committee for Development Policy (CDP) beginning in New York today.

The government will hold talks with the United States Trade Representative (USTR) this week to determine whether the recently signed bilateral trade deal remains valid after America’s Supreme Court struck down a large swathe of President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Friday.

The Enhanced Monitoring Mechanism (EMM), a body of the UN Committee for Development Policy (UN CDP), will begin an evaluation process following Bangladesh’s request to defer its graduation from the group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to developing nation status.

If the 15 percent rate replaces the 19 percent reciprocal tariff finalised for Bangladesh under the trade deal, Bangladesh’s effective tariff for exports to the US would stand at 31.5 percent.

Following the court’s decision, the US President announced a 10 percent additional tariff on all countries

The new government formed by BNP will seek to defer Bangladesh’s graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category to developing-nation status by at least three years, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said yesterday.

When Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced on February 12 that India would receive the same concessional duty access on garment exports to the US as Bangladesh, alarm bells rang across Dhaka’s garment districts.

The reciprocal trade deal signed by the interim government with the United States has raised questions regarding the economic sovereignty of Bangladesh, especially in decisions on trade, energy and security.

The United States has reduced its reciprocal tariff on Bangladeshi exports to 19 percent from 20 percent, as the two countries signed a new trade agreement last night to strengthen economic ties.

The two countries signed a deal moments ago

Under the agreement, the tariff rate on Bangladeshi products may fall to 18 percent from the current 20 percent