Refayet Ullah Mirdha

Omar Sultan, a 38-year-old truck driver, was with colleagues at Pretty Group’s loading and unloading area in Jamgara, Ashulia, around 6:30pm on Sunday when, five minutes later, a massive explosion sent him fleeing.

After a 12-year pause, the Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exhibition (BATEXPO), a flagship event of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), is returning this year.

Bangladesh sells garment items to the European Union (EU) at less than half the prices of those from Vietnam because of the lack of high-value garment items in Bangladesh’s export basket.

In the price chart, Bangladesh is only above Pakistan, the cheapest supplier.

Bangladesh has made significant progress in reforming its labour laws, but the real test now lies in implementation, particularly enforcement of the Labour Act, freedom of association in export processing zones and the effectiveness of labour inspections, according to Gilbert F Houngbo, director general of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

An energy security roadmap, an enabling investment climate and timely policies are among the major tasks for the government to attract more American investment in Bangladesh, said Syed Mohammad Kamal, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham).

The government has withdrawn the zero-duty import facility under the bond for 10 to 30 count cotton yarn, aiming to protect local textile millers.

The 81st UN General Assembly opens in New York today, with a decision on the deferment expected during the session