Leaders of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) have urged the swift release of around Tk 5,700 crore in pending cash incentives for the textile and apparel sector to help factories pay workers’ wages and bonuses ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
The appeal was made during an emergency meeting on Tuesday with Ahsan H Mansur, governor of Bangladesh Bank, at the central bank’s headquarters.
BGMEA Senior Vice-President Enamul Haque Khan and Vice-President Md Shihab Uddoja Chowdhury told the governor that incentives for FY2025-26 remain stuck in audit processes at lien banks and the central bank, worsening liquidity pressures across the industry.
The association stressed that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should receive priority in any fast-track disbursement.
Industry leaders warned the ready-made garment sector is facing a deepening crisis driven by weak global demand and prices, sharply higher production costs and continued geopolitical uncertainty. They added that effective production days in February have fallen to just 19 because of extended public holidays linked to the national parliamentary election and Language Martyrs’ Day, disrupting shipments and straining factory finances.
Entrepreneurs said meeting wage and bonus obligations before Eid-ul-Fitr has become a major challenge under the current conditions.
BGMEA also requested a special wage support loan equivalent to two months’ salary, repayable over 12 months with a three-month grace period. Among broader policy proposals, the trade body called for the reinstatement of packing credit at a reduced 7% interest rate, expansion of the pre-shipment credit scheme from Tk 5,000 crore to Tk 10,000 crore and an extension of the facility until 2030.
Governor Mansur assured the delegation that the central bank would provide necessary policy support, including considering faster incentive disbursement—particularly for SMEs—to ease factories’ liquidity pressures ahead of Eid.