Summary of the Readymade Garments Industry in Bangladesh

The readymade garments (RMG) industry has played a crucial role in Bangladesh’s economic development, turning the country from a struggling economy into a global manufacturing hub. Once labeled a "bottomless basket," Bangladesh is now a nation of economic resilience, maintaining an average 6% GDP growth rate and achieving remarkable social progress.

After gaining independence in 1971, Bangladesh faced immense economic challenges, as no major industries had been developed under West Pakistan’s rule. The decline of the jute industry, once the country's primary export, created the need for new industries, and the RMG sector emerged as a game-changer.

The apparel industry began in the 1980s, pioneered by Nurool Quader Khan, who sent 130 trainees to South Korea in 1978 to learn garment production. Upon their return, he established Desh Garments, the first export-oriented factory. Other entrepreneurs, including Akhter Mohammad Musa, Mohammad Reazuddin, Humayun of Paris Garments, Fazlul Azim, Abdul Mannan, and Shamsur Rahman, followed suit, laying the foundation for a booming industry.

Despite challenges such as child labor (eliminated in 1995) and concerns over the MFA-quota phase-out in 2004, Bangladesh’s RMG sector continued to grow. It proved resilient in the post-MFA era, defying negative predictions. By 2019-20, the industry contributed over $27.9 billion in exports, accounting for 83% of total export earnings.

Today, the "Made in Bangladesh" tag is recognized worldwide, solidifying the country’s position as a global leader in the garment industry.