BD expert urges wider China ties to modernise RMG sector

Bangladeshi textile professional Md. Mahbubur Rahman, who trained at China’s Donghua University on a Chinese government scholarship, is pushing for stronger Bangladesh-China collaboration to drive the next phase of the country’s ready-made garment (RMG) industry growth.

Rahman earned his opportunity to study Clothing Engineering in Shanghai, completing a full year of Chinese language training before finishing his master’s degree entirely in Chinese medium.

He went on to pursue a PhD in China for nearly three years, an academic path that later opened doors to work with international companies including Gerry Weber and Herma, and to build trusted relationships with Chinese industry associations and investors.

Speaking on the state of Bangladesh’s garment sector, Rahman said the industry’s biggest challenges are no longer limited to cost pressure alone.

He pointed to gaps in productivity, management capability, leadership quality, compliance readiness, and technology adoption, arguing that many factories still rely on traditional practices while global markets move toward speed and efficiency.

He described Bangladesh-China collaboration as critical to the sector’s future, with China offering investment, machinery, and technological expertise, and Bangladesh contributing manufacturing scale and workforce potential.

Untapped opportunities, he said, include technology transfer, industrial modernization, technical training, and stronger integration into global supply chains.

Rahman also flagged weak middle management, limited ownership mindset, and insufficient practical leadership as key barriers holding factories back, noting that many have manpower and machinery but lack operating discipline.

He called for universities to close the gap between classroom learning and industrial reality so graduates become “industry-ready.”

Looking ahead, Rahman said his goal is to help position Bangladesh internationally as more than a low-cost manufacturing destination – as a country capable of industrial transformation, technological advancement, and long-term global partnership.