International buyers of Bangladesh’s readymade garments have begun cancelling scheduled meetings and factory visits in Dhaka due to escalating political and security uncertainty, sparking concerns that work orders for the next two seasons could be disrupted. Industry leaders warn that prolonged instability may push buyers to shift orders to competing countries, posing a direct threat to employment and export growth.
The alarm was raised at a conference in Dhaka titled, Business Crisis and Negative Trend of Exports: Way Outs, chaired by former BGMEA President Kazi Moniruzzaman and held at the Uttara Club. Leaders from the apparel, textile and related sectors urged the government to restore law and order and rebuild buyer confidence before the situation worsens.
Speakers highlighted rising unemployment, factory closures, proposed labour law amendments and the challenges surrounding Bangladesh’s upcoming LDC graduation. BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan said the country is not yet prepared for LDC graduation and stressed that a stable policy environment is essential to maintaining export competitiveness.
Former BGMEA President Faruque Hassan warned that export growth has remained negative for the past three months, noting that buyers are increasingly uneasy about the political situation. His concern was echoed by Shovon Islam of Sparrow Group, who said four major buyers from the US, UK and EU had already cancelled planned factory visits, opting instead for meetings in hotels — a shift that limits their ability to monitor production directly.
Industry leaders also criticised a new clause allowing trade unions to form with just 20 workers, arguing it could create instability and open the door to external interference.
With around 258 factories shutting down over the past year, resulting in the displacement of more than 100,000 workers, speakers called for urgent and consistent policy support, improved port efficiency and stronger business representation in the forthcoming national election to safeguard the sector’s future.
