Refayet Ullah Mirdha

Bangladesh’s exports to Canada grew 14.53 per cent year-on-year to CAN$1.97 billion last year, riding on the trade privilege extended by the North American nation.

The inflow of new work orders to Bangladesh’s garment sector from international retailers and brands for June is 45 per cent lower than that a year ago as demand is yet to pick up in the western markets because of the coronavirus pandemic.

A glimmer of hope just appeared for the bruised and battered economy: exports seem to be looking up.

The Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishment (DIFE) in a circular has urged garment factory owners not to terminate any worker to avert labour unrest in the country.

Cites factories running at 55pc capacity as reason; BGMEA installs 3 PCR labs for Covid-19 test of workers

Import of cotton from India, once the main sourcing destination for Bangladesh’s textile millers, dipped further last year as locals are increasingly moving to suppliers in North and West African countries to cut reliance on the neighbouring country.

Bangladesh’s garment exports to major destinations suffered a devastating blow in April as factories put up the shutters while demand hit rock bottom because of the coronavirus pandemic worldwide.

A new chapter begins in the country’s apparel factory inspection and workplace safety, as RMG Sustainability Council (RSC), a local entity formed by the sector’s apex trade body with representation from brands and trade unions, finally started its journey yesterday.

The country’s primary textile millers have once again called upon the government to impose anti-dumping duty on cheap Indian yarn to save the $8 billion domestic textile industry.

Following the advent of the coronavirus pandemic in Wuhan, China last December, it was assumed that a number of Japanese companies based in the East Asian nation would shift their factories to less affected countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam.

Primary textile millers in Bangladesh have called upon the government to impose anti-dumping duty on Indian yarn imports to protect the $8 billion domestic textile industry.

Clothing manufacturers in India have asked the government to impose more duty on import of clothing items, especially from Bangladesh, to save their domestic industry.

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic is inflicting a shock to the employability of the vulnerable youth population in Bangladesh, according to a report of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has been engaging different international rights groups to ensure that international retailers and brands pay local suppliers.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has threatened to blacklist British clothing retailer Edinburgh Woollen Mill (EWM) in Bangladesh for not paying suppliers and not responding to the call of the association.

Japan has asked Bangladesh to have a blitz on the business environment and services to the existing Japanese companies as preconditions to come by fresh investments from the far-east Asian country.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has recommended that the ministry of labour and employment close down 46 garment factories that failed to pay the workers’ salary for March despite repeated requests from the association.

Here’s a spot of good news amid the doom and gloom.

Bangladeshi suppliers of the American retail giant JC Penney are in hot water as their payment has now become uncertain after the company filed for bankruptcy protection on Friday.

The government yesterday asked garment factory owners to pay the workers 50 percent of their basic salary as Eid bonus before the festival and another 50 percent after the festival.