DHAKA : Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Mahmud Hasan Khan paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud Bin Harun, reports BSS.
In the meeting held at BIDA office on Monday (June 30), BIDA Executive Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury congratulated the newly elected BGMEA Board of Directors for the term 2025-2027. BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan was accompanied by Vice President (Finance) Mizanur Rahman, Vice President Bidiya Amrit Khan and Director Samiha Azim. BIDA and BEZA were also present on behalf of BIDA and BEZA. BIDA Executive Member (Investment Ecosystem) Md. Mokhlesur Rahman (Additional Secretary) and BEZA Executive Member Saleh Ahmed (Additional Secretary)
BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan highlighted the current situation of the garment industry in the meeting. He said, “Global geopolitical instability, counter-tariffs imposed by the United States, India’s cancellation of transshipment, high bank interest rates, and frequent increases in gas and electricity prices have created major challenges for the garment industry.” He mentioned that BIDA’s cooperation is very necessary to expand the industry and advance the industry by addressing these challenges.
Request for land allocation for small and medium factories in Chittagong
During the discussion, BGMEA President proposed to consolidate these factories spread across different parts of Chittagong city into a specific zone and develop an integrated garment industrial zone. He requested the Executive Chairman of BIDA and BEZA to allocate a plot of land in Chittagong at a symbolic price in favor of BGMEA. The Executive Chairman took the matter seriously and said that a committee will be formed with representatives of BGMEA and BIDA immediately, which will present an action plan within a week.
BGMEA's request for investment in renewable energy and recycling industry In the meeting, the BGMEA delegation highlighted their various initiatives related to sustainability and circularity. They said that the use of renewable energy is essential to ensure environment-friendly production in the garment industry. BGMEA leaders expressed their opinion that it is necessary to formulate a roadmap in this regard and provide technical and financial support to the factories to encourage energy conversion by installing solar panels in the garment factories.
They also said that there is huge potential for waste recycling in the garment industry. To encourage investment in this sector, it is necessary to formulate appropriate policies, make the sector tax-free and bring informal workers under supervision. They sought BIDA's cooperation in these matters.
Request to simplify the loan classification and bond audit process
The loan classification policy of Bangladesh Bank was also discussed. BGMEA leaders requested to increase the current 3-month grace period to 6 months, because sometimes due to financial crisis, entrepreneurs fail to pay installments on time and are subject to loan classification. They mentioned the bond audit process as time-consuming, harassing and a serious obstacle to the daily activities of export trade. The BIDA Executive Chairman was also requested to nominate 20 institutions for bond audit through outsourcing to ensure transparency and speed of this process.
Proposal to form a Ministry of Textiles and Apparel
BGMEA leaders requested the BIDA Executive Chairman to take the initiative to establish a separate Ministry of Textiles and Apparel instead of keeping the garment industry under the Ministry of Commerce.
BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud Bin Harun praised the outstanding contribution of the garment industry to the economy of Bangladesh. He assured the BGMEA leaders that BIDA will continue all kinds of cooperation in addition to strengthening public-private sector partnerships for the development of the garment industry.
