Bangladesh Bank introduced a special loan facility to help export-oriented manufacturers pay worker wages as liquidity pressures weigh on production and shipments.
The bailout measures from the central bank came in lockstep with a government order for the owners to pay out to their staffs timely, as a sensitive time is close by with Eid festival approaching.
In a circular issued Tuesday, the banking regulator instructed scheduled banks to extend the temporary credit support to operational export-oriented firms facing cash-flow constraints amid global and domestic economic pressures.
The funds may be used exclusively to pay wages and allowances for February 2026, according to the directive.
The facility aims to prevent wage delays in labour-intensive export sectors, particularly garments, which remain a key source of foreign- exchange earnings.
Banks may provide the term loans in addition to existing working-capital limits, subject to an assessment of borrowers' repayment capacity.
However, the loan amount cannot exceed the average monthly wage bill paid by the borrower over the previous three months.
Only companies that export at least 80 per cent of their total output and have paid workers' wages regularly between November 2025 and January 2026 will qualify as operational export-oriented enterprises.
Borrowers must obtain certification from relevant trade bodies such as Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).
Loans will carry prevailing market-based interest rates.
"To ensure transparency, banks will deposit wage payments directly into workers' individual bank accounts," says the BB firman.
The loans will be repayable within one year, including a three-month grace period, in equal monthly or quarterly installments.
Banks are not permitted to charge any additional fees or commissions beyond the regular interest rate.
The directive was issued under powers granted by the Bank Company Act 1991 "in public interest".
The measure is believed to help stabilise export industries during the Eid-ul-Fitr when workers demonstrate on regular salary and bonus issue.
The government Tuesday instructed factory owners of all sectors, including textiles and garments, to pay wages for the month of February by first seven working days of March and festival allowance by March 12.
It also asked for paying 15 days' wages for the month of March in advance through discussion between workers and factory managements.
Regarding Eid holidays, the government also asked for discussion with respective factory workers to decide accordingly.
Other instructions to factory owners include not terminating workers and declaring factory layoffs before Eid while workers are advised not to blockade road and vandalise factories.
Labour minister Ariful Haque Choudhury made the instructions at the 94th Tripartite Consultative Committee (TCC) and 24th TCC on RMG meeting of labour ministry at CIRDAP in the city.
Commerce minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, labour state minister Md Nurul Haque, adviser to the Prime Minister Mahdi Amin, Bangladesh Employers Federation president Fazlee Shamim Ehsan and TCC vice-president Anwar Hossain, among others, spoke there.
Earlier, labour leaders demanded full-month wage payment for March, no termination or layoff of factories, food-rationing facility for workers, six-month mandatory maternity leave.
They also informed the meeting that if workers do not get wages and bonus before Eid, they have "no other option but to gather at the street or highways to realize demands".
They demanded timely wage and other allowances, including festival payment.
Speaking there, Mohammad Hatem, president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), said industrial police data showed that many factories could not pay wages for the month of January and February and it was not possible to pay advance 15 days' payment for March.
Citing export data, he said the sector "has been passing tough situation as we are not getting sufficient work orders due to a number factors".
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