Bangladesh faced a crippling 37 percent tariff on its exports to the US.
Bangladesh’s RMG sector has improved, but challenges in wages and rights remain.
Bangladesh faces a critical decision: recalibrate its economy towards inclusivity and sustainability.
Bangladesh is at a critical crossroads in its energy policy.
Garment exports by Bangladesh’s market rivals like India, Vietnam, China and Cambodia have increased to major Western markets due mainly to the latest spell of labour unrest and political changeover earlier in August in the country.
After more than a month of disruption due to the political changeover and subsequent labour unrest in major industrial belts, international apparel retailers and brands are returning to Bangladesh with work orders for upcoming seasons.
In light of the recent development in the RMG sector, where factories have started to open, Taslima Akhter, president of Bangladesh Garment Sramik Samhati (BGWS), talks about the workers’ protest and their demands and plights in an interview with Aliza Rahman of The Daily Star.
International market prices declined mainly because of a fall in demand from end consumers suffering from high inflationary pressure due to the severe fallouts of Covid-19 and Russia-Ukraine war.
Despite facing one of the highest tariff rates, Bangladesh is the third-largest apparel exporter to markets in the US because of its efforts to improve working conditions, end forced labour, stamp out counterfeits, and provide safe and high-quality products to American consumers, said the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) at a hearing recently.
US Ambassadorto Dhaka, Marcia Bernicat underlines that Bangladesh’s readymade garments sector is much safer than what it was in 2013.
Bangladesh has more green garment factories than any other country in the world.
A news item that probably did not get much attention in Bangladesh media was an announcement in The Hague that an international court has accepted a case against two well-known fashion brands in March 2018.
Two police officials and several others are injured as garment workers engage in a clash with law enforcers in Mirpur 1 of Dhaka.
