The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) today signed separate agreements with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and the BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT) to strengthen the skills of workers and professionals in the country’s ready-
made garment (RMG) sector.
The agreements were signed at a ceremony held at the EPB conference room in the capital this afternoon with EPB Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Mohammad Hasan Arif in the chair, said a press release.Under the initiative, a total of 22,815 workers, employees and mid-level officials of the RMG sector will receive training over the next three fiscal years– 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29.
BGMEA and BKMEA will conduct five-day training programs for workers, while BUFT will offer six-month Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) courses for officials. The entire programme will be financed through the Ministry of Commerce’s training fund. Speaking at the event, Mohammad Hasan Arif stressed the need to modernize training modules and improve their quality to meet the evolving demands of the global apparel industry.
He underscored the importance of effective monitoring to ensure that trainees are able to apply their newly acquired knowledge in the workplace and contribute to the industry’s growth.
Arif also emphasized the need to maintain transparency and accountability in the management of government-funded training programs and called for close supervision by all participating organizations throughout the three-year implementation period.
The training initiative aims to boost productivity and facilitate the efficient use of modern machinery to enhance the production of high-quality goods that meet international market standards.
The program will also focus on increasing awareness of compliance requirements and Rules of Origin regulations in the European Union and other major export destinations. Speaking on the occasion, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan said training curricula should be updated to incorporate emerging industry needs, including circular machinery operations and compliance-related issues, particularly as the number of suit manufacturing factories continues to grow in Bangladesh.
BKMEA Executive President Fazle Shamim Ehsan expressed optimism that the resumption of the programme would benefit stakeholders at all levels, from factory workers to senior officials. The initiative is also expected to help develop a pool of skilled local professionals, reducing dependence on foreign expertise and contributing to foreign exchange savings, he added. Among others, EPB Director General Md. Ruhul Amin attended the signing ceremony.
