Shaping future leaders in Bangladesh’s RMG industry
On August 26th, Brac University Economics Club (BUEC) hosted a high-impact seminar titled “Nurturing Leaders at Home: Shaping the Next Generation in RMG” consisting of distinguished speakers. The seminar was particularly aimed at students from diverse fields with the intention of inspiring and informing them regarding the readymade garment industry by demonstrating career growth, leadership, and business opportunities in the RMG sector of Bangladesh and emphasizing the need for youth-led change from within our country.
The panel was moderated by Sifat Islam Ishty (Senior Lecturer, ESS) who is also known as a tycoon in this field. He started by introducing Tanvir Ahmed (MD, Sheltech Group & Envoy Legacy) as the first speaker. He talked about the challenges brought by COVID-19, especially on how Sheltech shifted to a growth mindset, safeguarded employees, and shifted to a ‘take care of the people’ strategy, keeping the employees and their salaries protected. Not to mention, the policies which brought about a 240% growth in profits. Such an achievement is proof that the people-first strategy pays off in the long term.
Abrar H. Sayem (President, BAYLA) highlighted the importance of engaging young people in policy formulation. He explained that BAYLA bridges the gap between students and the corporate sector, influencing government and international relations. Sayem motivated students to participate in clubs and alliances to obtain practical experience and life-changing skills.
Abrar Alam (Director, Asrotex Group) stressed the need for local skilled talent and digital growth in RMGs. Leadership, communication, and data skills were identified by speakers, with BAYLA suggesting a 3-month hands-on program while Lithe M. Mohiuddin (Director, Lithe Group) shared insights from her international education, urging students to lead with empathy and global awareness. She highlighted women’s potential in non-traditional RMG roles and emphasized the industry’s capacity for inclusive growth through diverse, locally grounded leadership. Anila Afrin (sophomore, ESS) shared, “I hadn’t realized the RMG industry offered so many opportunities, especially for women. Lithe Ma’am’s words truly inspired me to learn more about it.”
In the wrap-up, Tanvir Ahmed urged young people to lead with purpose saying, “Leaders don’t dwell on problems—they move forward.” The seminar ended with a Q&A session that encouraged students to lead careers that make a difference.
