EU to assess Bangladesh’s proposal for FTA
26 May 2026, 00:00 AM
The European Union is set to begin an internal assessment of Bangladesh’s proposal for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the bloc, nearly a year after the proposal was first placed.
26 May 2026, 00:00 AM
Over 95% of apparel factories pay April salaries
26 May 2026, 00:00 AM
More than 95 percent of factories across garment and textile associations paid April salaries ahead of Eid-ul-Azha as of yesterday evening, according to Industrial Police (IP) data.
26 May 2026, 00:00 AM
High duties on solar parts slow green transition
25 May 2026, 00:00 AM
The government should reduce import duties on solar equipment in the upcoming budget for fiscal year 2026-27 to encourage wider adoption of renewable energy and help exporters meet international compliance requirements, said Vidiya Amrit Khan, vice-president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
25 May 2026, 00:00 AM
Dhaka Airport: Cargo exports hit as 3 of 4 scanners out of order
18 May 2026, 00:00 AM
Exports through Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) have been severely disrupted as three of the four Explosive Detection System (EDS) scanners remain non-functional.
18 May 2026, 00:00 AM
Bangladesh should move up the global value chain: ADB
7 May 2026, 00:00 AM
The study on GVCs, growth, and inequality was released yesterday
7 May 2026, 00:00 AM
BGMEA offers to help US define cotton use rules
7 May 2026, 00:00 AM
The offer was made as US officials are yet to clarify how the facilities will work in practice
7 May 2026, 00:00 AM
Apparel makers to seek clarity on US cotton tariff deal
5 May 2026, 00:00 AM
USTR officials arrive for talks on reciprocal tariff deal implementation and ongoing investigations into overcapacity and forced labour issues
5 May 2026, 00:00 AM
Exports snap 8-month decline with 33% surge in April
4 May 2026, 00:00 AM
Shipments reach $4b with all top 20 export markets posting positive YoY growth
4 May 2026, 00:00 AM
Advisory council undecided on Beximco factory sale
A state advisory council yesterday remained undecided on whether to sell 16 textile and garment factories of Beximco Group, citing that further scrutiny of bank statements was required.
20 January 2025, 18:00 PM
Beximco workers want jobs back
The 40,000 laid-off workers and officials of the 16 textile and garment units of Beximco Group want the factories to remain operational so that they can be reinstated.
19 January 2025, 18:00 PM
Bangladesh sees window of opportunity in Trump’s trade war
US President-elect Donald Trump’s trade policies towards China and Mexico could ultimately benefit Bangladesh, according to local apparel exporters.
18 January 2025, 18:00 PM
Labour leaders call for easier union rules
Labour union leaders yesterday suggested that the government amend the labour law, easing the condition of a 20 percent workers’ participation threshold to only 20 workers to facilitate freedom of association.
16 January 2025, 18:00 PM
Govt to find jobs for 40,000 workers laid off by Beximco
The government is trying to find jobs for 40,000 laid-off workers of Beximco Group in factories within the Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (Bepza) and the Bangladesh Export Zones Authority (Beza), a senior labour ministry official said.
14 January 2025, 18:00 PM
Major trade bodies miss election deadline as reforms take centre stage
Elections at major trade bodies have missed the 90-day deadline as new administrators of the business organisations seek amendments to the governing rules.
9 January 2025, 18:00 PM
RMG exports grew moderately in 2024 despite headwinds
In spite of turbulent times prevailing both at home and abroad, garment exports from Bangladesh grew in 2024 by 7.23 percent year-on-year to $38.48 billion, according to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB)..This is due to an increasing demand for clothing with the fall of inflation in major
6 January 2025, 16:28 PM
Home textile exports bounce back
The export of home textiles is on the path to recovery after nearly one year because of the devaluation of the local currency, increased production capacity and improvement in gas supplies to some extent.
5 January 2025, 18:00 PM
Businesses’ 2025 wish list is long, but political stability tops all
Businesses hope for the year 2025 to bring about stability as normalcy has started to be restored in businesses following turbulent times both at home and abroad.
1 January 2025, 18:00 PM
Can apparel industry weather any storm? 2024 offers clues
For the local apparel industry, 2024 was a year marked by challenges, recoveries and a renewed sense of hope as the global market began to brighten -- proving once again the resilience of Bangladesh’s apparel might.
29 December 2024, 18:00 PM
Beximco lays off 40,000 workers at 15 apparel units
The Beximco Group has laid off nearly 40,000 workers across its 15 apparel units, citing a lack of work orders for its export-oriented garment and textile factories in Dhaka’s outskirts of Gazipur.
18 December 2024, 18:00 PM
Election to boost business confidence: entrepreneurs
Business leaders, economists and professionals have emphasised that an elected government is essential for restoring confidence in the business community, stabilising law and order, and revitalising the business and investment climate.
16 December 2024, 18:00 PM
Price of garments exported to the US fall
The prices of major garment items exported to the US declined year-on-year in the January-October period this year as American consumers are yet to recover from heightened inflationary pressures..During the 10 months, the price of men’s cotton woven trousers declined by 7.7 percent, accor
14 December 2024, 18:03 PM
The trials and tribulations of preparing the white paper
After three months of rigorous work, a white paper panel on the state of the economy revealed all the fault lines that had formed across Bangladesh during the 15 years of rule under the Awami League government, which held power from 2009 until it was ousted by a mass uprising on August 5 this year.
13 December 2024, 18:00 PM
Financial strains: Govt to sell or lease some Beximco units
The government has decided either to sell the ownership of a good number of Beximco Group companies or find entrepreneurs to lease these units out.
5 December 2024, 18:42 PM
Continue reforms to retain trade after LDC graduation
The reform initiatives taken by the interim government should be continued as these reforms may pave the way towards a more modern, equal and inclusive Bangladesh, said a top official of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
3 December 2024, 18:00 PM
Trump’s high tariffs on China may lower edible oil prices globally: importers
The Trump Administration’s imposition of high tariffs on goods made in China may help to reduce the price of soybean seeds and edible oil in Bangladesh, traders and importers said..China’s retaliatory tariffs may also discourage Chinese importers from buying US goods, they added. .If
14 November 2024, 18:07 PM
With Trump’s win, Bangladesh gets more investment queries from China
Chinese entrepreneurs are increasingly inquiring with Bangladeshi businesses over scope for factory relocations, joint ventures and fresh investments, apprehending that the new Trump administration might further hike tariffs on their exports to the US.
13 November 2024, 18:00 PM
Why does labour unrest drag on?
Following the political changeover on August 5, the country’s main export-earnings sector, the garments industry, witnessed a large-scale and drawn-out spell of labour unrest in industrial belts such as Savar, Gazipur, Ashulia, Zirabo and Zirani.
12 November 2024, 18:00 PM
Wage arrears a bane for RMG protesters
Delayed salary payment from a handful of RMG factory owners triggered the latest bout of labour unrest
11 November 2024, 14:48 PM