BATEXPO returns after 12-year hiatus

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.

The two-day expo will be held on November 18 and 19 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center (BCFCC) in Dhaka. It will showcase Bangladesh’s garment and textile products to international buyers and promote the country’s apparel trade globally.

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“We are organising BATEXPO 2026 after a 12-year gap to showcase locally made textile and garment products,” said BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan.

The event -- likely to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman -- will highlight the evolution of Bangladesh’s garment and textile industries, particularly in sustainability, workplace safety and product diversification.

The last BATEXPO was held in 2013. The event was subsequently suspended following the Tazreen Fashions fire in November 2012 and the Rana Plaza building collapse in April 2013. Political unrest in the following years and the political changeover in August 2024 further delayed its return.

Since the Rana Plaza disaster, the industries have undergone major changes, driven partly by pressure from international organisations and stakeholders, including the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the European Union and global clothing retailers and brands.

A major area of progress has been the development of green factories. Bangladesh has emerged as a global heavyweight in green garment factories certified by the US Green Building Council.

At present, Bangladesh has 286 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified ready-made garment (RMG) factories. Of these, 123 have platinum ratings, and 144 have gold ratings.

The country also has 53 of the world’s top 100 highest-rated LEED-certified factories.

Workplace safety has improved significantly as well. Independent inspections under the Accord and Alliance initiatives helped identify and address safety concerns in factories, contributing to improved compliance.

MOVING INTO HIGHER-VALUE PRODUCTS

Bangladesh has also strengthened its position in higher-value garments, including jackets, suits, activewear, skiwear, military clothing and high-end branded items, as China has lost market share in the global clothing supply chain.

The country has traditionally been strong in cotton-based garments, with about 70 percent of annual apparel exports still made from cotton fibre. However, changing global fashion trends have prompted Bangladesh to diversify.

About 78 percent of garments produced globally are now made from man-made fibre. Bangladesh has increased production of such garments, which now account for about 30 percent of its exports, according to industry insiders.

Bangladesh is now the world’s second-largest garment exporter. In fiscal year 2025-26, exporters shipped $38.70 billion worth of garments, compared with less than $1 billion when BATEXPO was launched in 1989.

“We will highlight our achievements at this BATEXPO,” said the BGMEA president.