Photo : Collected
Walmart, a popular clothing brand, globally withdrew 216,000 pieces of babywear produced by Bangladesh's Unique Designers due to quality issues.
Industry insiders revealed a technical issue with the baby wear. The problem was related to the zipper on the jacket, which did not meet quality standards, and the measurements of the T-shirts were not appropriate for the age of the users. However, the zipper used in the jacket was supplied by Walmart's nominated supplier.
“Yes, we have received the complaint and have replaced the zippers on the baby wear. We have also taken new orders from Walmart, and Walmart has already settled the bills,” Sayed Farid, managing director of Unique Designers Ltd, told the Daily Messenger.
He further mentioned that Unique Designers Ltd has been working with Walmart since 2009, and they receive work orders worth $3 to $4 million annually from Walmart.
Muhammad Hatem, the Executive Vice President of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), confirmed that Walmart has withdrawn a consignment from its showrooms in 12 countries due to technical issues in a small consignment. In response to a query, he said, "No country has refused any consignment, and we are expanding our branding efforts in the EU and Asia."
He explained that a small consignment from a well-known factory was of lower quality because the supplier nominated by Walmart provided subpar zippers. This is why the renowned garments retailer withdrew the clothes from that consignment. Hatem assured that work orders would not be affected, as ‘Made in Bangladesh’ has established a strong presence in the world's RMG sector.
Shahidullah Azim, Vice President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said, “The clothes from the mentioned consignment were questioned due to issues with washing. They were not chemical-free, prompting Walmart to make the decision.”
Responding to a question, he clarified that there were no political issues involved, and the relationship with Walmart would remain strong.
Primarily, global inflation caused by the war has led to a decline in work orders, said Azim.
Over the past 15 years, Bangladesh has established a strong presence in the global market, with 13 countries in the West and Asia importing billions of dollars' worth of apparel from Bangladesh.
According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh fetched $47 billion in the 2023 fiscal year, with 13 countries importing $35.1 billion.
“‘Made in Bangladesh’ is being promoted across the globe to expand the business,” said Shahidullah Azim.
EPB data shows that Bangladesh exports to Denmark $1.28billion, France $2.94 billion, Germany $6.68 billion, Italy $2.26billion, Netherlands $1.85billion, Spain $3.57billion, Sweden $1billion, Poland $1.73billion, USA $8.51billion, Canada $1.54billion, Japan $1.59billion, Australia $1.15billion, India $1billion.
Dr. Khondaker Golam Moazzem, a research fellow at CPD, told the Daily Messenger, “The political situation will not impact trade, as the world is looking to return to a normal economy from the war-prone tension. The USA and EU economies are gradually recovering.”
On the other hand, some countries like Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Romania, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia, Croatia, and Luxembourg have relatively lower import figures.
Exports have grown significantly, primarily driven by the RMG sector. According to EPB data, in the last fiscal year (FY), RMG exports reached a record $47 billion, with knitwear accounting for $25.73 billion and woven items earning $21.25 billion, compared to $42.61 billion in the previous year.
During July-October in the 2024 FY, Bangladesh earned $14.78 billion, with $8.67 billion from knitwear and $6.01 billion from woven items, representing a 5.95 percent growth.
Messenger/Disha
