The Industry That Carries a Nation

Walk into any high-street clothing store in Europe or North America and pick up a shirt. Flip the label. There is a good chance it reads - Made in Bangladesh.

For over four decades, Bangladesh's Ready-Made Garment (RMG) industry has been the engine of a nation's economic transformation. In FY2024–25, Bangladesh's apparel exports reached $39.35 billion — a growth of 8.84% over the previous year, according to data published by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). The sector contributes over 80% of the country's total export earnings and employs more than 4 million workers directly — most of them women from rural and semi-urban backgrounds — in addition to another estimated 1 million in sub-contracting units. (Sources: EPB, July 2025; BGMEA, May 2025).