Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) President Taskeen Ahmed today emphasized that developing a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen the chemical backward linkage industry is no longer optional but a strategic necessity to safeguard the future of Bangladesh's export sector. Taskeen made the remark at a seminar on ‘Backward Linkage Development of the Chemical-Dependent Key Export-Oriented Industries: Current State and Issues’ organized by the DCCI at its auditorium today. Director General of Bangladesh Institute of Management (BIM) Salim Ullah and Abul Fatah Md. Baligur Rahman, Member (Development) of Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) attended the event as special guests.
Challenges and Needs
In his welcome address, DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed said the export competitiveness of Bangladesh's RMG, textiles, leather and pharmaceutical industries depends significantly on a competitive supply chain of chemical products. He noted that the country's industrial growth continues to be hampered by heavy reliance on imported dyes, chemicals, specialized industrial raw materials, along with tariff complexities, lengthy environmental clearance procedures and logistical bottlenecks.
Policy and Collaboration
DG of BIM mentioned that the government is currently reforming the National Industrial Policy. He suggested that the private sector should decide whether the development of the chemical backward linkage industry requires a separate policy or whether the necessary reforms should be incorporated as a dedicated chapter in the existing industrial policy. He also stressed the need for stronger public and private sector collaboration to develop a skilled workforce to support the country's overall economic growth.
Baligur Rahman underscored the need to bridge the gap between industry and academia to accelerate Bangladesh's economic growth. He encouraged industrial entrepreneurs to utilize research outcomes and products developed by BCSIR. "By mobilizing local resources, how we can add significant value to the export products and establish competitive import-substitute industries BCSIR is rigorously working toward that goal," he added.
Industry Insights
In his keynote presentation, Asif Rabbani, Managing Director of SR Chemical Industries Ltd, stated that Bangladesh's domestic chemical market is currently valued at $6–8 billion, growing annually at 10–15 percent. In FY2025, Bangladesh imported approximately $6.2 billion worth of chemicals, the majority of which were used in the RMG, pharmaceutical, and leather industries. He identified logistics constraints, high tariff rates, inadequate infrastructure and the lack of an efficient supply chain as major barriers to the sector's development. He stressed the need for both modernization of relevant policies and enhancement of domestic industrial capabilities.
