Middle East conflict disrupting garment production: Says BGMEA president

The ongoing Middle East conflict is severely disrupting production in the garment sector due to energy shortages, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Mahmud Hasan Khan said yesterday. He made the statement at a meeting with Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir at the minister’s office in Dhaka, where he led a BGMEA business delegation. Khan said the sector is facing a crisis due to global economic instability, the impact of the Middle East conflict, and severe gas and electricity shortages in the country, according to a BGMEA statement after the meeting. He also said rising raw material prices and higher production costs have further worsened the situation. In such a difficult time, strong policy support from the government and a business-friendly environment are essential to stay competitive in the international market, he added. Khan also spoke about the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC), saying it was formed mainly to address future industry challenges, including monitoring building, fire, and electrical safety standards. However, he said that social compliance issues such as wages and trade unions are not within its core responsibility. Khan added that expanding its role into these areas would create extra administrative and financial burdens on the industry, which is not desirable. He also stressed that any decision in this regard must be made in line with stakeholders’ views and national laws, the statement read. During the meeting, the BGMEA chief called for an amendment to the current import policy to simplify the import of raw materials on a free of cost (FOC) basis. He also requested a revision of relevant clauses in the Import Policy Order to remove the requirement for bond licences when supplying goods from bonded exporters to non-bonded direct exporters. BGMEA leaders urged the withdrawal of the existing 10 percent income tax deduction on cash incentives to boost garment exports. They also called for normalising trade relations with India and removing barriers to yarn imports and product exports through land ports. To further speed up garment exports, they proposed amending relevant sections of the Import Policy 2024-2027 and automating the process for determining CIP (Commercially Important Person) status for industry entrepreneurs. The minister acknowledged the importance of the sector as the country’s leading foreign currency earner in the current global context. He assured that the government would provide necessary policy support to address challenges and maintain Bangladesh’s competitiveness in the global market, the statement added.