president of bgmea

His extensive contributions span far beyond his own company, Rising Group. As BGMEA Vice President in 2007, he played a key role in improving owner-worker relations and strengthening backward linkages. He has also been instrumental in developing Bangladesh’s largest private economic zone and is a multiple-time National Export Trophy winner, underscoring his broader impact on the country’s economic landscape. 

Running on the powerful election theme “Service, Honesty, Courage, Prosperity,” his landslide victory was a clear endorsement of his future-focused leadership. Now, with the mandate in hand, Mahmud Hasan Khan is pushing forward on a multi-dimensional roadmap—from supporting SMEs and enhancing buyer accountability to promoting circular economy practices and reforming customs procedures. At the heart of it all lies his guiding vision: “Towards the Future with Efficiency.” 

Textile Today: Congratulations on the victory! What are your top priorities as BGMEA President, especially amid pressing challenges and high expectations? 

Mahmud Hasan Khan: The overwhelming mandate we received reflects the expectations of the entire apparel community. They want service, solutions, and sincerity—and we are committed to delivering just that. 

Instead of rigid 100- or 200-day goals, I view the presidency as a full two-year term where priorities may shift depending on evolving global and local dynamics. For example, the U.S. tariff issue wasn’t a top concern six months ago, but now it’s our most urgent priority. My approach is to act swiftly across all fronts, ensuring that the key promises from our election manifesto are addressed—some will be completed, others will see significant progress. 

Textile Today: With global geopolitical tensions rising, including the Iran-Israel conflict, how do you assess the potential impact on Bangladesh’s RMG supply chain? 

Mahmud Hasan Khan: Absolutely, such conflicts can disrupt global trade and severely affect supply chains. We’re particularly concerned about the rise in LNG and petrochemical prices, which are critical inputs for our industry. This chain reaction will increase manufacturing costs and possibly delay shipments. 

Our plan is to engage with buyers proactively—if extended lead times arise, we’ll seek their cooperation. Domestically, we urge the government to ensure seaport efficiency, especially in clearing and forwarding operations, to offset delays in raw material imports. 

Textile Today: You recently emphasized SMV-based floor pricing. What are the practical hurdles to implementing this? 

Mahmud Hasan Khan: Establishing a Standard Minute Value (SMV)-based floor pricing system is crucial for long-term sustainability. This will ensure a minimum fair price based on accurate time and motion studies, taking operational costs into account. 

However, implementation remains the toughest part. BGMEA cannot do it alone. We’ll need strong alignment and consensus from all stakeholders, especially brands and buyers. It's not just a pricing mechanism—it’s about long-term industry viability. 

Textile Today: Energy scarcity remains a persistent issue. How do you see the government’s response, and what further actions are needed? 

Mahmud Hasan Khan: Energy supply is indeed one of the major bottlenecks. While the government, industry bodies, and associations acknowledge the issue, timely policy decisions are essential to balance supply-demand gaps. 

We urge the government to make advance import decisions and infrastructure planning to reduce uncertainty. With efficient planning, power disruptions can be minimized and production continuity ensured. 

Textile Today: You recently announced a 25% reduction in BGMEA service charges. Will this impact your operations? 

Mahmud Hasan Khan: Not at all. This reduction is a symbolic step to show that we are serious about lowering the cost of doing business. If we expect the government and others to reduce costs, we must lead by example. 

BGMEA is not a profit-making organization. As long as we operate at break-even, we’re serving our purpose. Moreover, internal cost control and reduction of operational inefficiencies will ensure that this reduction does not hamper service delivery. 

Textile Today: You have placed strong emphasis on strengthening BGMEA’s R&D capacity. How do you plan to make it impactful? 

Mahmud Hasan Khan: BGMEA has an R&D Center, but to truly support industry transformation, we need to expand its scope and bring in more local expertise. I plan to build a platform that supports sustainable innovation, data-driven insights, and future-proof planning—especially in areas like circular economy, smart textiles, and automation. 

We’ll also encourage factory-level R&D and create partnerships with academic and tech institutions to help manufacturers prepare for the future. 

Mahmud Hasan Khan enters office with both the experience of a seasoned industry leader and the resolve of a reformist visionary. His early actions—reducing service charges, prioritizing floor pricing, and initiating systemic reforms—signal a fast-track agenda grounded in accountability and agility. 

As global supply chains evolve and sustainability becomes central to global sourcing, Bangladesh's RMG sector must not only keep pace—but lead. With Mahmud Hasan Khan at the helm, the sector seems poised to embrace a new era of transparency, innovation, and shared prosperity.