The disbursement of remediation money for garment factories flagged by Accord and Alliance remains very low, as retailers shy away from contributing to the pooled fund, industry insiders said.

The US will assist Bangladesh in achieving its $50 billion apparel export target by the end of 2021, US Ambassador in Bangladesh Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat said yesterday.

The government is set to buy rice at Tk 32 a kg from the domestic market during the boro season, which is Tk 1 more than the rate offered last season.

With the political crisis deepening, the apparel industry that accounts for 80 percent of the country's total exports is going through a critical phase. Losses are piling up every day due to a decline in orders from international retailers, order cancellation, soaring air freight charges, a production shortfall and higher transportation costs.

Export orders at Dhaka International Trade Fair 2015 rose 18.16 percent to Tk 95.05 crore from the previous year, despite blockades and strikes across the country enforced by the BNP-led alliance since January 6, according to data from the Export Promotion Bureau.