Bangladesh's garment manufacturers have one message for international buyers: pay a fair price. "We want fair business, not charity," suppliers said, as reported by The Daily Star, pressing brands to stop squeezing order prices below production cost.

The call goes to the heart of the sourcing equation. Bangladesh remains the world's second-largest apparel exporter, and its factories compete heavily on price. Suppliers argue that rock-bottom FOB quotes make it impossible to fund compliance upgrades, pay the new minimum wage, and invest in efficiency.

The plea follows the country's minimum wage increase for garment workers. In late 2023, the government raised the monthly minimum to Tk 12,500, up about 56% from Tk 8,000. Brands sourcing from Bangladesh have faced pressure to reflect that rise in their pricing. Suppliers say many have not.

The cost squeeze lands on factory owners already absorbing higher energy bills, elevated bank financing costs, and lingering fallout from the 2024 political transition. The interim government that took office in August 2024 has pushed labour and compliance reforms, and buyers face heightened scrutiny of their purchasing practices.

For sourcing teams, the message is direct. A fair price is not a favour; it is the cost of a compliant, stable supply base. Suppliers say buyers that demand social compliance, greener production, and shorter lead times must price those requirements into their orders.

The fair-pricing debate is not new, but it has sharpened. Global inflation raised input costs across cotton, synthetics, and freight, while retail demand in Western markets stayed soft. Buyers responded by pushing for discounts, and factories in Dhaka, Gazipur, and Chattogram absorbed much of the pressure.

Industry bodies have long argued that responsible purchasing practices are as important as factory audits. A factory can pass an inspection yet still lose money on an order placed below cost. That dynamic, suppliers say, drives wage arrears, unauthorized subcontracting, and corner-cutting on safety.

The Daily Star report frames the suppliers' position plainly: Bangladesh does not want handouts from brands. It wants order prices that cover the cost of production, decent wages, and reasonable margins.

For buyers, the commercial calculus is clear. Bangladesh offers deep capacity, short lead times to European markets, and a broad base of certified green factories. Holding prices below cost risks eroding exactly those advantages.

The fair-pricing push will test brand commitments in the year ahead. Suppliers say they will keep pressing the case through buyer negotiations and international forums, and the outcome will shape whether Bangladesh's export growth continues on a sustainable footing.