Mahmud Hasan Khan, President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), announced on Wednesday that nearly all member factories have successfully disbursed workers’ salaries and bonuses for February. Speaking at a press conference at the BGMEA headquarters in Uttara, Dhaka, he stated that 99.91% of member factories had paid February salaries, while 99.81% had distributed Eid bonuses. Additionally, despite the absence of a legal requirement, 64.3% of factories had provided partial salary advances for March.
The press briefing was attended by senior BGMEA officials, including Senior Vice President Inamul Haque Khan, Vice President (Finance) Mizanur Rahman, Vice Presidents Vidiya Amrit Khan and Md. Shihab Uddoja Chowdhury, as well as Directors Shah Raed Chowdhury, Faisal Samad, Nafis-ud-Doula, Majumdar Arifur Rahman, Sheikh Hossain Mohammad Mostafiz, Kazi Mizanur Rahman, Zowarder Mohammad Hosne Komar Alam, A.B.M. Shamsuddin, Dr. Rashid Ahmed Hossaini, Rumana Rashid, Mohammad Sohel, Samiha Azim, and the Chairmen of the Public Relations and One Stop Cell committees, Masud Kabir and Mozammel Haque Bhuiya.
Mahmud Hasan Khan highlighted that the remaining payments—salaries for two factories and Eid bonuses for four factories—are in the process of being cleared. He also noted that staggered holidays are being implemented to reduce traffic congestion on major roads.
He further outlined the challenges facing the sector in the 2025–26 fiscal year. “Bangladesh’s ready-made garment industry is navigating a complex landscape shaped by a global economic slowdown, geopolitical instability, and rising competition in international markets,” he said. According to BGMEA data, export earnings in the first eight months of the current fiscal year have fallen by 3.73%. The opening of back-to-back Letters of Credit (LCs) for raw materials decreased by 6.79%, while the average unit price of garments dropped by 1.76%. Additional pressures stem from volatile international fuel markets, rising transport costs, and uncertainties in global supply chains.
Despite these financial pressures, many entrepreneurs have mobilised personal funds to ensure that workers receive their salaries and bonuses. BGMEA, in coordination with factory owners, banks, and labour federations, has intervened to assist factories facing severe financial constraints, ensuring uninterrupted payments.
Summary of Salary and Bonus Payments:
| Payment Type | Percentage of Factories Paid (%) | Remaining Factories |
|---|---|---|
| February Salaries | 99.91 | 2 factories pending |
| Eid Bonus | 99.81 | 4 factories pending |
| March Partial Salary Advance | 64.3 | Ongoing process |
Concluding the briefing, Mahmud Hasan Khan assured that no BGMEA-registered factory currently has unresolved issues regarding February salary payments, signalling stability and commitment to workers’ welfare across the sector.