BGMEA DAILY DIGEST
News published in media related to RMG: Today’s RMG News

March 15, 2026

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The Daily Star
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has sought a date from Bangladesh for a hearing as part of the US’s twin investigations into trade and forced labour. Brendan Lynch, the assistant USTR for South and Central Asia, contacted the commerce ministry for the date, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman told The Daily Star. A date would be given right after the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays as there are only three working days left, he said.Although the hearing of the investigation will be government-to-government, the garment sector is ready to help with data and evidence to make a robust case before the USTR, said Mahmud Hasan Khan, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association. The garment sector does not indulge in overproduction to the extent that it would be a threat to the US’s manufacturing sector, he said, adding that Bangladesh does not produce any counterfeit garment items that may violate intellectual property rights.
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প্রথম আলো
গবেষণার তথ্য : যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের চেয়ে ইইউতে ১০% বেশি দাম পান রপ্তানিকারকেরা বাংলাদেশের তৈরি পোশাক রপ্তানিকারকেরা ইউরোপীয় বাজারে যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের তুলনায় ১০ শতাংশের বেশি দাম পান, যার প্রধান কারণ দুই বাজারে শুল্ককাঠামোর পার্থক্য ও অগ্রাধিকারমূলক সুবিধা। তবে স্বল্পোন্নত দেশ (এলডিসি) থেকে উত্তরণ হলে বাংলাদেশ ইইউতে এই সুবিধা হারাতে পারে। কিছু ক্ষেত্রে সুরক্ষাব্যবস্থার কারণে ভবিষ্যতে ইউরোপীয় ইউনিয়নে (ইইউ) পোশাক রপ্তানিতে প্রায় ১২ শতাংশ শুল্ক আরোপের ঝুঁকিও রয়েছে। বেসরকারি গবেষণা সংস্থা রিসার্চ অ্যান্ড পলিসি ইন্টিগ্রেশন ফর ডেভেলপমেন্টের (র‌্যাপিড) সাম্প্রতিক এক গবেষণায় এমন তথ্য উঠে এসেছে। আজ শনিবার ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের (ঢাবি) সামাজিক বিজ্ঞান অনুষদের উন্নয়ন অধ্যয়ন বিভাগে আয়োজিত এক পরামর্শ সভায় গবেষণাটির তথ্য উপস্থাপন করা হয়।

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The Daily Star
The rise of a denim empire Mahmud Hasan Khan, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said global demand for Bangladeshi denim products is rising and the country has strong growth potential. He described Bangladesh as an important sourcing destination for international retailers. Shams Mahmud, managing director of Shasha Denims, said there is no reason for a slowdown in the sector.“Well-known global retailers and brands are now placing orders in Bangladesh, as the country has the capacity to produce high-end denim for premium customers in Western markets,” he added.

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The Business Standard
NBR moves to ease raw material sourcing for 1,100 non-bonded RMG factories Exporters believe that the proposed decision will mark a significant step towards improving the ease of doing business in Bangladesh. Md Shehab Udduza Chowdhury, vice president of BGMEA – who has been liaising with the NBR on behalf of the association for the past year to resolve this issue – welcomed the new initiative. He said, "Discussions on this matter began back in 2021. Multiple committees were formed to solve the problem, yet no progress was made. Although the NBR took action after our letter 11 months ago, the process eventually stalled.

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The New Age
RMG sector announces up to 10 days’ Eid vacation The factories and offices of the country’s readymade garment sector would remain closed from March 19 to March 25, according to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association. In a letter to its members, the BGMEA stated that the office would resume operations from March 28, following Independence Day on March 26 and a public holiday on March 27.Cute Dress Industry Ltd managing director Sheikh Hossain Muhammad Mustafiz, also a director of BGMEA, said his factory’s vacation would start from March 19 and would continue till March 27.

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The Financial Express
EU market pays more for Bangladeshi garments than US: RAPID study Bangladeshi-made major garment items fetch higher prices in the European Union (EU) compared to the US due to different pricing and margin strategies based on preferential market access, according to a study by Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID). "On average, firms obtain 5.0 per cent to 18 per cent higher prices in the EU than in the US market for top ten apparel products," said Jillur Rahman, a lecturer at the Department of Development Studies of Dhaka University. Citing example, the academic, also deputy director of RAPID, said exporters receive about 20-27 per cent higher prices for T-shirts in Germany than in the US, while trousers command a 9.0-15 per cent price premium in the German market.