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
EU halts Dhaka talks. Is it a bad omen?
The European Union’s (EU) postponement of the first round of negotiations with Bangladesh on a new agreement will impact trade, investment and development cooperation with the country’s largest trading partner..“In light of the prevailing situation, the first round of negotiations on the P
1 August 2024, 16:32 PM
RMG factories resort to weekend production to minimise loss
The garment and textile millers kept factories open on last Friday in an effort to meet the sharp deadline set by their international retailers, as the latest weeklong countrywide violence ate up four vital days of their peak production season.
27 July 2024, 18:00 PM
RMG exporters in a race against time to offset losses
Local apparel exporters are in a frantic race to recover the losses they incurred during the latest spell of violence centring the quota reform movement and nationwide curfew, with international retailers and brands pressuring them to ensure timely delivery of goods.
25 July 2024, 18:00 PM
Garment sector reeling from shutdown
DBL Group, a leading garment exporter, usually ships apparel worth around $50 million each month.
24 July 2024, 18:00 PM
Let factories run, restore internet
Production and shipments are dependent on strict lead times set by international clothing retailers and brands, yet the factories have had to be kept shut for the past three days
23 July 2024, 15:05 PM
Garment sector's losses piling up as factories remain shut
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
23 July 2024, 14:57 PM
Let factories run, restore internet
Garment exporters yesterday demanded that the government keep the sector out of the purview of the ongoing curfew and fast restore internet services for the resumption of production as soon as possible.
21 July 2024, 18:00 PM
Cargo piles up at HSIA as C&F agents observe strike for 3 days
Nearly 1,500 tonnes of cargo have been stockpiled at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka over the past three days due to a strike called by clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents.
16 July 2024, 18:00 PM
Will there be any uptick in investment after PM’s China visit?
There was an expectation that investment inflows from China to Bangladesh would increase substantially following the Covid-19 pandemic as investors in China were looking for an alternative manufacturing hub.
13 July 2024, 18:00 PM
Bangladesh moves to put export data system in order
The government has initiated moves to correct the system to calculate national data in oder to avoid the repetition of the shock after the central bank reported a massive statistical mismatch linked to exports.
8 July 2024, 18:00 PM
EPB delays releasing export data after mismatch shock
The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) is taking more time than it usually does to release the export data for June apparently because of the shock following the central bank’s correction of overseas sales figures.
6 July 2024, 18:00 PM
Inflated export figure leaves businesses upset
The adjustment of export figures that saw shipment values plummet by nearly a staggering $14 billion in the first 10 months of 2023-24 from a year ago has left several businessmen disappointed.
4 July 2024, 18:00 PM
China yet to turn into big export destination
China could not become a potential export destination for Bangladesh despite offering generous preferential trade benefits for the past decade or so.
3 July 2024, 18:00 PM
Expedite negotiations for trade deals: expert
Bangladesh should expedite talks for trade deals with major partners like Canada, India, Japan and China to retain duty benefits after graduating from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026..This is because following graduation, the country’s garment exports will face duty of 11.
1 July 2024, 18:00 PM
Hasina’s visit may open FTA talks with China: Titu
Bangladesh is expecting a formal declaration of the beginning of a negotiation of a free trade agreement (FTA) with China during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to China next week, State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu said.
1 July 2024, 18:00 PM
PM’s visit may open door for FTA with China: Titu
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s four-day China visit begins on July 8
1 July 2024, 13:44 PM
No visible progress in signing Cepa with India
Bangladesh and India are yet to begin the formal negotiation to sign the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa) although nearly two years have passed since both countries agreed to kick off the talks.
30 June 2024, 18:00 PM
Too much reliance on one export item is a major risk: ADB
Bangladesh’s earnings from exports, excluding apparel, grew at a compound annual rate of 7.6 percent over the past three decades or so whereas garments witnessed 14.6 percent growth, which highlights a lack of product diversity, according to a new study yesterday.
29 June 2024, 18:00 PM
LDC exit: A win for the nation, but a loss for trade
Bangladesh’s graduation from the group of least-developed countries (LDCs) to a developing nation in 2026 has become a point of national pride, underlining the substantial economic strides that the country has made.
28 June 2024, 18:00 PM
Ratio of female workers in RMG on the wane
The ratio of female workers in the garments sector is falling rapidly due to automation, lower wages and opportunities than in other sectors and a reluctance among the younger generation to take up the profession.
27 June 2024, 18:00 PM