Refayet Ullah Mirdha

The number of green garment factories in Bangladesh has reached 173 as two more units received the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the US Green Building Council (USGBC) yesterday.

Export earnings dropped 6.25 per cent year-on-year to $3.9 billion in September, the first fall in 14 months, as the cost-of-living crisis in the western countries took its toll on Bangladesh’s main foreign currency earning sector.  

Bangladesh is poised to overtake China in garment exports to Europe, the world’s largest market, anytime in the near future for work orders shifting its way and its price competitiveness. 

Bangladesh made moderate advancements last year in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour, according to a report of the US Department of Labor published on Wednesday.

The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) along with 270 other trade bodies has urged the US Congress to reinstate the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) for the convenience of American traders.

Bangladesh-born Shwapna Bhowmick has been promoted to play the role of the head of Bangladesh and India operations of British retail giant Marks and Spencer (M&S).

Bangladesh is increasingly becoming a source not only for replica football shirts worn by fans but also kits used in practice by players of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup alongside European clubs. 

Businesses will not be able to use the Indian rupee for trading with India as the Bangladesh Bank has not enlisted the currency for the settlement of bills for exports and imports.

The government is going to formulate a policy on cross-border electronic transmissions in a bid to help guide the country’s thriving e-commerce industry in this regard, according to a senior official of the commerce ministry.

Sweater suppliers in Bangladesh are witnessing relatively a dull season because of a longer-than-usual dry spell in European countries and the higher cost of living fueled by the Russian-Ukraine war. 

A transit agreement between Bangladesh and Bhutan was finalised yesterday with senior officials of both countries agreeing to draft terms and conditions at a secretary level meeting in Dhaka. 

Bangladesh’s dominance in the global denim market has continued thanks to a surge in demand driven by the trade tension between the US and China. 

Three more Bangladeshi garment factories yesterday received international recognition of being green, taking the total to 171, although international clothing retailers and brands are still not paying premium prices for apparel items produced by those suppliers. 

International cotton prices have significantly fallen but brought little cheer to local spinners and garment manufacturers suffering from a drop in work orders from international retailers and brands.

Even in 1994, DBL Group, a leading garment exporter, was struggling to survive with less than 300 workers and a small factory in the capital’s Farmgate.

India’s offer of free transit will expand the regional and sub-regional market for Bangladesh’s exporters since it would allow them to ship goods to countries such as Nepal and Bhutan, said officials, economists and businessmen. 

Bangladesh’s garment manufacturers are pinning their hopes on the burgeoning Asian markets and the growing use of non-cotton apparel items to elevate their export earnings to $100 billion by 2030. 

With people in many parts of Europe facing heatwave, longer than usual dry summers and runaway inflation, denim makers in Bangladesh are feeling the pinch. 

Bangladesh recorded robust export earnings riding on the main export earner knitwear and woven garments in the first two months of the current fiscal year.  

The government yesterday approved the applications of 49 businessmen to export 2,450 tonnes of hilsa to India as the demand for this kind of fish rises among Indian consumers ahead of Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival in the neighbouring country, scheduled to be held next month.