Once the cradle of Bangladesh’s RMG industry, Chattogram remains the symbolic heart of where the nation’s apparel journey began. Today, the region contributes roughly 10–12% of total exports, as factories face persistent infrastructure and energy challenges that have slowed momentum.

Out of 620 BGMEA registered factories in Chattogram, 343 remain operational, marking a clear decline from the days when the region accounted for nearly 40% of national garment exports. Yet, this evolution also highlights a critical turning point, an opportunity to reimagine Chattogram’s role as a hub for modernization, diversification, and value added production.

Chattogram’s slowdown is not the end of its RMG story but a signal of where strategic investment and innovation are most needed. Reviving gas supply, strengthening logistics, and improving port connectivity can help reignite growth and ensure balanced regional development. With its legacy, skilled workforce, and proximity to Bangladesh’s largest port, Chattogram is well positioned for a new chapter, one that blends its historic strengths with next generation manufacturing and sustainability goals.

Balanced regional growth will be essential not only for Chattogram’s revival but for Bangladesh’s continued global competitiveness in the apparel industry. The city that once started it all has every foundation to lead again, this time as a model for resilience, renewal, and responsible growth.