Bangladesh garment orders flee as crisis deepens
Bangladesh’s garment export industry faces mounting pressure as international buyers redirect orders to competing nations amid persistent energy shortages and political instability. Factory owners warned that production delays caused by daily power cuts and inadequate gas supplies are forcing manufacturers to rely on costly air shipments to meet deadlines.
Mohammad Rashed from the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association said global clients remain reluctant to commit new contracts while uncertainty persists. At a seminar hosted by the Bangladesh Garment Buying House Association on Sunday, industry representatives stressed that ready-made garment exports account for more than 85 percent of national shipments, yet sector leaders struggle to secure meetings with senior government officials. Shawkat Aziz Russell from the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association criticized the chief adviser’s press secretary for making inappropriate social media posts while factories close and workers lose employment. He called a recent Dhaka Airport fire an additional blow to the country’s reputation among foreign purchasers.
Opposition figure Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury pledged to pursue investment-friendly reforms and extend the least-developed country graduation timeline if his party takes power. Speakers emphasized that without stable electricity, political certainty and streamlined regulations, the sector risks losing its competitive position permanently.
