February 2022

The Government, against all odds, allowed garment factories to operate amidst the countrywide lockdown on 30th July and the exporters made best of this. With work orders in tow, they got back to business within two days by 1st August observing all the safety protocols, striking the right balance between lives and livelihoods, to register a remarkable turnaround, earning a massive US $ 35.81 billion from apparel exports (in 2021). As much as these factories should be praised for their gritty performance, some of the credit should go to Bangladesh’s competitors that lost their way in-between. Forced closure of industry in Vietnam due to pandemic and power crisis and US trade sanctions hitting hard the manufacturing behemoth China did help Bangladesh’s cause for sure.

However, it was predominantly the buyers’ unwavering trust on the country and the resurgence of fashion retail, for which 2021 was defined in large part by a fierce rebound in consumer demand, which held the keys. As consumers continue to release their pent-up demand for clothing, optimism continues to rise amongst the garment makers in the country.