RMG stakeholders call for reduced import duties on renewable energy materials | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Monday
June 23, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2025
RMG stakeholders call for reduced import duties on renewable energy materials

RMG

TBS Report
21 May, 2024, 10:30 pm
Last modified: 21 May, 2024, 10:33 pm

Related News

  • Low bids persist in second phase of solar tender
  • Power Division wants Tk56,000cr PDB loans turned into subsidy
  • Nepal begins 38MW hydropower export to Bangladesh
  • Govt’s big solar push faces cold responses from local, international cos
  • Farm subsidy goes up, energy still gets bigger slice

RMG stakeholders call for reduced import duties on renewable energy materials

They also stress the need for government policy support to establish domestic factories producing renewable energy equipment.

TBS Report
21 May, 2024, 10:30 pm
Last modified: 21 May, 2024, 10:33 pm
Representational image. File Photo: Rehman Asad/TBS
Representational image. File Photo: Rehman Asad/TBS

Garment industry experts and representatives from ready-made garment (RMG) companies are urging the government to reduce import duties on solar power equipment and other renewable energy materials. 

They also stress the need for government policy support to establish domestic factories producing renewable energy equipment.

This appeal was made today during a focus group discussion organised by the Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD) on "Energy Transition in Bangladesh Apparel Sector: The Case of Market Access to the EU," held at BUILD's conference room in the city.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

A study on "Energy Transition in the Bangladesh Apparel Sector," conducted by BUILD, was highlighted during the event. The study involved input from government regulatory organisations, private RMG entrepreneurs, financial institutions, supporting organisations, and research organisations.

In her presentation, BUILD Senior Research Associate Farjana Yasmin said that import duties on raw materials for setting up renewable energy plants are steep, ranging from 25% to 28%, and sometimes reaching as high as 85%. 

The European Green Deal aims for a continent-wide shift to emission-free products by 2050. In line with this goal, European buyers are pressuring Bangladeshi suppliers to switch to renewable energy sources in apparel or RMG factories. 

To address this, BUILD conducted a study under the Textile Competitiveness Platform to assess the transition of Bangladesh's textile sector to renewable energy sources. The study found that RMGs require support in exploring alternative energy sources for long-term sustainability. 

Farjana also noted that the documentation process for accessing financing from the Green Transformation Fund is rigorous and time-consuming.

BUILD CEO Ferdaus Ara Begum highlighted the apparel industry's consistent success as Bangladesh's primary export, ranking second globally after China. 

Over the past decade, apparel exports have consistently accounted for 80-85% of Bangladesh's total export share, reaching $47 billion in 2023. The EU market stands as a crucial export destination for this sector.

Ferdaus Ara said that RMG factories can currently only derive 10-15% of their total energy from rooftop solar, necessitating the purchase of renewable energy certificates to meet the remainder, incurring significant costs. However, purchasing certificates does not reduce local emissions. 

H&M Environment Sustainability and Governance Program Manager Ashraful Islam  Ashraful Islam stressed the importance of reducing our products' carbon footprint and increasing renewable energy usage to avoid concerns about exporting RMG products to the EU market. 

Shams Mahmud, director of BGMEA and managing director of Shasha Denims Limited, highlighted that approximately 750 BGMEA members operate as SMEs and will face challenges in ramping up renewable energy usage due to the substantial investment required.

The event's chief guest, Munira Sultana, chairman of the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority, underscored the importance of these discussions for the future of RMG sector.

Bangladesh / Top News

RMG sector / energy / Renewable Energy / import duty

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Representational image. Photo: Collected
    Power starts returning in parts of Dhaka after 2-hour outage
  • US President Donald Trump (L) and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (R). Photo: Collected
    Iran vows response to US attacks; Trump says ‘we took bomb out of their hands’
  • An angry crowd held former chief election commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda in the capital’s Uttara area this evening (22 June). Photo: Focus Bangla
    Those who incited mob to detain ex-CEC Huda will face action: Govt

MOST VIEWED

  • New Mooring Container Terminal. Photo: TBS
    New Mooring Container Terminal to operate under Chattogram Port's own management
  • US President Donald Trump (L) and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (R). Photo: Collected
    Iran vows response to US attacks; Trump says ‘we took bomb out of their hands’
  • Infographic: TBS
    Bank Asia to auction National Feed Mill assets over loan defaults
  • Govt moves to curb family control, protect policyholders in insurance sector
    Govt moves to curb family control, protect policyholders in insurance sector
  • A US Air Force B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber (C) is flanked by 4 US Marine Corps F-35 fighters during a flyover of military aircraft down the Hudson River and New York Harbor past York City, and New Jersey, US 4 July, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo
    B-2 bombers moving to Guam amid Middle East tensions, US officials say
  • Photo: Courtesy
    Bangladesh, China, Pakistan pledge to deepen trilateral cooperation

Related News

  • Low bids persist in second phase of solar tender
  • Power Division wants Tk56,000cr PDB loans turned into subsidy
  • Nepal begins 38MW hydropower export to Bangladesh
  • Govt’s big solar push faces cold responses from local, international cos
  • Farm subsidy goes up, energy still gets bigger slice

Features

The HerWILL mentorship programme - Cohort 01: A rarity in reach and depth

The HerWILL mentorship programme - Cohort 01: A rarity in reach and depth

4h | Features
Graphics: TBS

Who are the Boinggas?

5h | Panorama
PHOTO: Akif Hamid

Honda City e:HEV debuts in Bangladesh

12h | Wheels
The Jeeps rolled out at the earliest hours of Saturday, 14th June, to drive through Nurjahan Tea Estate and Madhabpur Lake, navigating narrow plantation paths with panoramic views. PHOTO: Saikat Roy

Rain, Hills and the Wilderness: Jeep Bangladesh’s ‘Bunobela’ Run Through Sreemangal

15h | Wheels

More Videos from TBS

How Iran could respond to USA attacks

How Iran could respond to USA attacks

3h | Others
Judiciary lacked independence in past years: Chief Advisor

Judiciary lacked independence in past years: Chief Advisor

4h | TBS Today
Why are political parties divided over the basic principles of the Constitution?

Why are political parties divided over the basic principles of the Constitution?

4h | TBS Today
What are the differences between BNP and other political parties regarding the Prime Minister's term?

What are the differences between BNP and other political parties regarding the Prime Minister's term?

5h | TBS Today
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net