Mostafiz Uddin, managing director of Denim Expert Limited, and the founder of the Bangladesh Denim Expo, has written a book about the country’s readymade garment (RMG) industry.

Titled “Bangladesh Stories”, the book is a compilation of 100 articles written by Mostafiz for national and international media outlets on topics like sustainability, automation, garment worker’s rights and more.

In 2021, he embarked on a letter-writing campaign to Western leaders, shedding light on the struggles which apparel sourcing countries faced following the Covid-19 pandemic. 

In the campaign, he highlighted the need for government intervention and support for both manufacturers and retailers alike, encouraging them to reopen stores to keep the supply chain afloat.

Although the opinions given in the articles featured in the book are Uddin’s own, he said that he had asked for experts’ opinion and feedback before publishing the content. 

“The experience of writing the articles was self-awakening for me and enriched me personally,” he told reporters during the launching.

Through the book, Uddin conveys the strength of the Bangladesh apparel industry, the improvements it made and the challenges. 

“The apparel industry is tremendously important for the socioeconomic development of Bangladesh,” he noted, adding that apparel exports account for more than 84% of the country’s total foreign export and about 4 million people are directly employed in the Bangladesh apparel industry.

He also identified the issues that must be addressed by stakeholders for the sustainable development of Bangladesh’s apparel industry.

Apparel industry is the lifeline of Bangladesh’s economy, so the development of the country largely hinges upon the sustainable development of the industry, he added. 

The book now is available in bookstores in Dhaka and can be purchased online at Rokomari.com.

“I hope this book will help to better understand the industry’s dynamics and issues and ultimately act as a catalyst,” he added.