by Staff Correspondent,

Dhaka – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the garment manufacturers to find new export destinations with diversified products to keep pace with the competitive global market.

“Newer products will have to be produced keeping in mind that the choices vary with different countries,” she said while inaugurating six new textile institutions apparently to give boost to the country’s garment and textile industry.

She opened the institutions at a function organized in Dhaka by the ministry of jute and textile to mark the National Textiles Day-2022. Hasina joined the programme through video conferencing from her official Ganabhaban residence.  

Bangladesh, the second largest apparel manufacturer after China, employs more than 4 million workers, mostly women in the garment sector, across its nearly 4,000 factories run by the private companies.

The sector, which adds more than 80 per cent of its export earnings to the national economy, bounced back after the initial hiccups from the covid-19 pandemic, but finds it little difficult to survive with the global inflation triggered by the Russian war on Ukraine.

The premier was addressing as the chief guest a function marking the National Textiles Day-2022 and inauguration of six textile educational institutes in six districts, joining from her official Ganabhaban residence here through a video conference.

The prime minister said Bangladesh has to coordinate the fresh ideas with its old and historical tradition in textiles, for which a university on fashion and design was established in the private sector to prepare skilled manpower.

“We have to keep pace with the ever-changing trend of garments and realise which design is high in demand,” she said.

The newly opened institutes are: Sheikh Rehana Textile Engineering College in Gopalganj, Sheikh Russel Textile Institute in Jamalpur, Shahid Abdur Rob Serniabat Textile Institute in Gouronodi of  Barishal, Shahid Kamaruzzaman Textile Institute in Naogaon, Begum Amina Mansur Textile Engineering Institute in  Sirajganj and Bhola Textile Institute.

On behalf of the prime minister, the textiles and jute minister Gazi Golam Dastagir handed over honorary awards to 10 persons and institutions including Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bangladesh Textile Manufacturers and Exporters Association, and Bangladesh University of Textiles.

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