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Showkat Aziz Russell, president of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), has expressed concern over the challenges and fluctuating growth of the country's textile sector.
Speaking on Monday at a roundtable organised by The Financial Express, he said, “We are not seeing significant progress in exports or investment,” attributing the slowdown to a lack of proper policies and government assistance.
Citing his own experience, Mr Showkat said, “I initiated a project on plastic bottles and took it to former Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi. He appreciated the initiative, but to this day, I have not received permission to import plastic bottles.”
The BTMA chief added that waste management is a profitable emerging business, yet the government has shown little attention to the sector, even though waste is traded internationally. “For me, it is a raw material, not waste. I can convert it into fibre, geotextiles, or plastic,” he said. He underscored the need for clear policy and the removal of bureaucratic restrictions, noting that such obstacles prevent businesses from fully utilising resources like fibre and geotextiles.
Mr Showkat also urged the government to introduce immediate incentives, warning that without timely support, future opportunities could be lost. “If business activities stop, who will consume the surplus gas? Support us, allow us to do business, and we will contribute taxes, revenue, and employment — this is what we expect from the government. Don’t make life difficult for us; we already operate under many hardships,” he said.
He further cautioned that entrepreneurs, despite their talent and investment, become discouraged when faced with persistent obstacles, while the government continues to seek foreign direct investment.
At the same time, he highlighted the potential of man-made fibres and urged for a coordinated effort between the government and the private sector to explore new avenues for growth.
Lutfey Siddiqi, Special Envoy on International Affairs to the Chief Adviser, attended the discussion as the chief guest, while Md Anwar Hossain, Secretary at the Ministry of Science and Technology, and Mohammad Hasan Arif, Vice Chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), joined as special guests.
The session was chaired by Shamsul Huq Zahid, Editor and CEO of The Financial Express, and moderated by Shiabur Rahman Shihab, Head of Online and Digital Content at FE.