Faruque Hassan

Congratulations and a big round of applause are due to Bangladesh’s apparel makers for bringing glory to the nation by reaching a new milestone of having 200 globally certified green factories.

When we speak of diplomacy, political issues and conflicts usually come to mind. Economic issues, however, are equally important. Some would even argue that they are even of greater importance. Why? Because most of the bilateral and multilateral cooperation revolves around generating new business, facilitating established business and enhancing trade ties -- all key essential elements for the sustenance of a nation.

Being a densely populated country, one of the major sources of Bangladesh’s competitiveness is the young and vibrant workforce. We have around six million economically active population, and various estimates suggest that around two million people are joining our labour force every year.

The year 2021 started with a hope to overcome the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic and rebuild the industry. With many momentous changes that happened throughout the year, it was a year of challenges and turnaround, yet a significant moment to transit to the next phase of development.

The world is more environmentally conscious than ever before as the threats of pollution are becoming increasingly obvious.

Technology is proving to be a game-changer in the fashion industry. From manufacturing to marketing, the touch of technology is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity. That is why a technological transformation is taking place at great speed both at organisational and industry levels not only in Bangladesh, but across the globe.

We cannot help but take pride and feel happy when Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres terms

The year 2021 is a significant one for Bangladesh as the country is celebrating its 50th year of independence.