Archive · 23 Jan 2026
Bangladesh Textile Mills to Shut Indefinitely from February 1
The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) has decided to close all textile mills in the country starting February 1.
They say they are doing this because they are losing a lot of money and the government is not helping.
The mills have been running at only half their usual capacity, and they owe a lot of money to banks.
They also blame duty-free imports of yarn for making it hard for local mills to compete.
Garment exporters, however, disagree and say that stopping these imports will make their products more expensive.
The shutdown could affect millions of jobs and the country's economy, as the textile industry is very important to Bangladesh.
All textile mills in Bangladesh will shut down indefinitely from February 1 due to financial losses and government inaction.
BTMA cites a 50% erosion of the industry's capital base and inability to repay bank loans.
The industry has lost Tk 12,000–15,000 crore in the past 30 days, operating at 50% capacity.
BTMA accuses the government of not addressing their concerns, despite the sector contributing 13% to GDP.
Garment exporters oppose the shutdown, warning it could inflate yarn costs and harm the $28 billion knitwear export industry.
- Who
- Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) and garment exporters (BGMEA, BKMEA)
- What
- Indefinite shutdown of all textile mills in Bangladesh
- When
- Effective February 1
- Where
- Bangladesh
- Why
- Crippling financial losses and government inaction
- Date of Shutdown
- February 1
- Reason for Shutdown
- Financial losses and government inaction
- Industry Loss
- Tk 12,000–15,000 crore in 30 days
- GDP Contribution
- 13%
- Yarn Demand Met Locally
- 50–70%
- Potential Job Losses
- Millions
- RMG Factories Closed
- 113 (January 2024 - March 2025)
- Workers Displaced
- 96,000