Three major industry bodies—Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), and Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA)—have called on the government to take urgent measures to protect the country’s struggling spinning mills.
The appeal came following an emergency meeting held on Tuesday, where BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan, BTMA President Shawkat Aziz Russell, and BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem met to discuss pressing challenges in the textile and apparel sectors.
Leaders from all three associations participated in the meeting, with special emphasis placed on the ongoing crisis in the spinning sector, said a press release.
The associations expressed deep concern over the deteriorating condition of domestic spinning mills and decided to request an immediate meeting with the relevant government ministries. They warned that without swift intervention, the country’s spinning industry could face shutdown at any moment.
Industry leaders cautioned that closure of the spinning sector would have severe consequences, including massive job losses for workers and significant financial shocks to banks and other financial institutions. They further noted that such a collapse would force Bangladesh’s textile and apparel industry—its largest export sector—to rely heavily on foreign suppliers, posing a serious threat to long-term competitiveness.
The meeting also discussed the recently issued Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Ordinance 2025. Leaders expressed dissatisfaction, stating that several key provisions inserted into the ordinance were not aligned with decisions taken at the Tripartite Consultative Council (TCC) meeting.
The three associations collectively rejected the ordinance as issued and urged the government to amend the relevant sections in accordance with the official TCC decisions.
The associations emphasised that safeguarding the spinning sector and maintaining policy consistency are crucial for sustaining Bangladesh’s textile and apparel industry, which remains the backbone of the national economy.
