Textiles, Knits & RMG Sector of Narayanganj
Narayanganj — often called the “Dundee of the East” — is the birthplace of Bangladesh’s modern textile and knitwear industry. With over a century of craftsmanship, it remains one of South Asia’s strongest textile and RMG clusters.
Overview
Focus: Textiles, Knitwear, and Readymade Garments (RMG)
Industrial Belt: Fatullah, Siddhirganj, Rupganj, Sonargaon
Strength: Skilled workforce, river connectivity, and export infrastructure.
Sectoral Composition
| Knitwear & Apparel | ~55% of national knitwear output |
| Textile & Dyeing | 400+ active processing units |
| Accessories | 500+ SMEs producing trims, labels |
| Design & Finishing | Printing, embroidery, washing |
Adamjee Export Processing Zone
| Area | 245 acres |
| Industries | 90+ operational |
| Investment | USD 500+ million |
| Employment | 60,000+ workers |
| Exports | USD 800 million annually |
Major Enterprises
- Fakir Apparels Ltd. – Vertically integrated knitwear exporter
- Envoy Textiles Ltd. – Sustainable denim production
- Snowtex Outerwear Ltd. – Sportswear & outerwear exporter
- Mondol & Hamim Group – Large knit & woven plants
Employment & Workforce
| Direct Employment | 350,000+ |
| Indirect Employment | 150,000+ |
| Female Workforce | 65–70% |
| Skill Level | High adaptability; training increasing |
Export Performance
| 2018–19 | USD 4.8B (EU, UK, USA) |
| 2020–21 | USD 4.2B (COVID impact) |
| 2021–22 | USD 5.6B (recovery) |
| 2022–23 | USD 6.2B (growth resumed) |
Key Challenges
- Environmental compliance for dyeing units
- Road and logistics congestion
- Skill shortages at mid-management level
- Utility fluctuations and finance access issues
Future Prospects
- Sustainable processing & renewable energy dyeing
- Integrated textile parks at Kanchpur–Rupganj
- Skill development through TVET & BKMEA
- Logistics modernization (ICD, road upgrades)
- Export branding & design innovation
The Textiles, Knits & RMG Sector of Narayanganj stands as the heart of Bangladesh’s export excellence — merging tradition, innovation, and sustainability. With ongoing modernization, it continues to lead South Asia’s textile transformation.