A total of 185 ready-made garment factories have shut down in Bangladesh over the past year, leaving thousands of workers unemployed. According to the Bangladesh Garment and Buying House Association (BGBHA), this situation has arisen due to severe disruptions in production caused by gas and electricity shortages.
The information was revealed during a press briefing held on Sunday (October 12) at the association’s headquarters in Dhaka.
BGBHA President Mofazzal Hossain Pavel said,“With factories closing one after another and production declining, foreign buyers are losing interest. Export orders have also fallen compared to previous periods.”
He added that garment exports have dropped by 5–6 percent in the last two months. On top of that, high tariffs imposed by the United States, the global economic slowdown, and domestic political uncertainty are collectively putting pressure on the sector.
Association leaders further said that Bangladesh’s presence at international apparel fairs has decreased compared to before. Although entrepreneurs are participating, many representatives from production and buying houses are not being given opportunities to attend, which is hampering Bangladesh’s brand promotion.
The BGBHA believes that sustainable industrialization is impossible without close coordination between producers and buying houses. The association urged the government and relevant stakeholders to work together to find solutions.
Senior Vice President Abdul Hamid Pintu, Vice President Saifur Rahman Farhad, and General Secretary Zakir Hossain were also present at the briefing.
Meanwhile, foreign buyers have warned that unless the production crisis is resolved quickly, it will be difficult for Bangladesh to receive new orders. They emphasized that effective government intervention is now essential to maintain industrial production and exports.
