Bangladesh Textile Mills Association

The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) is the national trade body representing private-sector textile mills in Bangladesh. Its membership base covers manufacturers of yarn and fabric as well as mills involved in textile processing and related production activities. Based in Dhaka, the association serves as an industry representative, research body, and institutional intermediary for one of Bangladesh's most important manufacturing sectors. BTMA was established and registered in 1983 with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies. It was constituted as a not-for-profit association under the Companies Act 1994. The organization is governed by a board of 27 directors, supported by three vice presidents and a president. This structure gives the association a formal representative mechanism for communicating the interests of textile mills to government bodies and other industry institutions. The association's work includes research on Bangladesh's textile industry and representation of mills producing yarn, fabric, and processed textile products. Its institutional role is distinct from that of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, which principally represent garment and knitwear manufacturers and exporters. Together, these organizations form part of the organized business representation surrounding Bangladesh's broader apparel and textile sector. BTMA also has a regulatory and administrative function in the textile machinery supply chain. A certificate issued by the association is required for the import of textile machinery into Bangladesh. This gives BTMA a practical role in documenting and supporting industrial investment in spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing, finishing, and other textile-mill activities, although the available reference material does not specify the detailed certification procedure or eligibility rules. An important institutional initiative associated with BTMA is the National Institute of Textile Engineering and Research (NITER), which it established in partnership with the Ministry of Textiles and Jute. NITER connects the industry association with textile engineering education, technical research, and skills development. The initiative reflects the sector's need for trained personnel and applied expertise as Bangladesh's textile manufacturing base expands. The association has been led by textile and industrial business figures, including executives connected with major Bangladeshi business groups. Showkat Aziz Russell, managing director of Amber Denim Mills Limited, a concern of Partex Group, is identified as its president in the available reference material. Previous presidents include business leaders such as Salman Fazlur Rahman, Tapan Chowdhury, Mohammad Ali Khokon, and others. No reliable current membership totals, budget, revenue figures, detailed policy publications, or comprehensive list of member mills is provided in the source material. BTMA is therefore best understood as an industry institution rather than a consumer-facing brand. Its principal value lies in collective representation, sector research, administrative certification, coordination with public authorities, and support for textile education and research. It remains active in Bangladesh, with its activities centered on the domestic textile-mill industry.

The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association was established and registered in 1983 as a not-for-profit association with Bangladesh's Registrar of Joint Stock Companies. Its legal registration is associated with the Companies Act 1994. From its inception, the organization has functioned as a national representative body for private-sector textile mills rather than as a manufacturing company or commercial brand. BTMA's represented industry includes yarn manufacturers, fabric manufacturers, and textile-processing mills. These activities occupy an important position in Bangladesh's textile and apparel supply chain, providing inputs and processing capacity for downstream manufacturers. The association's role is to articulate the common interests of these mills, conduct or support research concerning the textile industry, and provide an organized point of contact for public authorities and related institutions. The organization is administered by a 27-member board of directors, three vice presidents, and one president. A succession of business figures has held the presidency, including A.M. Zahiruddin Khan, Alhaj M.A. Hashem, Dr. M. M. Amjad Hussain, Salahuddin Kasem Khan, Saleh Ahmed, Waliul Islam, Mohammad Shahjahan, Salman Fazlur Rahman, Abdul Matin Chowdhury, M. A. Awal, Abdul Hai Sarker, Tapan Chowdhury, Mohammad Ali Khokon, and Showkat Aziz Russell. The available material does not provide the dates of their individual terms. BTMA also has a specific administrative function related to industrial equipment. Its certificate is required for the import of textile machinery into Bangladesh. This requirement places the association within the practical process of expanding or modernizing textile-mill capacity, although the available references do not describe the precise legal framework, application process, or review criteria. The association's institutional scope extends beyond lobbying and documentation. In partnership with the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, BTMA established the National Institute of Textile Engineering and Research. NITER represents a collaboration between industry and government intended to strengthen textile engineering education, technical capabilities, and research capacity. This initiative links the association to long-term workforce and technology development in the sector. BTMA operates alongside two other prominent Bangladeshi industry bodies: the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association. Whereas those organizations focus principally on garment and knitwear manufacturing and exports, BTMA represents textile mills and upstream or intermediate textile production. Together, the associations provide organized representation across connected parts of Bangladesh's apparel and textile economy. The association is located in Dhaka and remains active. Publicly available reference material does not establish a detailed chronology of policy interventions, membership growth, financial performance, advertising campaigns, or controversies. Its documented historical importance instead rests on its creation as a national textile-mill association, its governance structure, its machinery-import certification role, and its collaboration in establishing NITER.

• 1983

  Association established and registered

  [1]Bangladesh Textile Mills Associationen.wikipedia.org

  BTMA was established and registered with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies as a not-for-profit association representing Bangladesh's textile-mill sector.

• Partnership to establish NITER

  [1]Bangladesh Textile Mills Associationen.wikipedia.org

  BTMA partnered with the Ministry of Textiles and Jute to establish the National Institute of Textile Engineering and Research.

A national, not-for-profit trade association representing Bangladesh's private-sector textile mills and connecting the industry with government, research, and technical education institutions.

• Establishment of NITER with the Ministry of Textiles and JuteStrategy

  Background

  The textile sector requires technical education, engineering expertise, and research capacity to support industrial development.

  Action taken

  BTMA collaborated with the Ministry of Textiles and Jute to establish the National Institute of Textile Engineering and Research.

  Aftermath

  The initiative created an institutional link between the textile-mill industry, government, technical education, and textile research.

  Source

• Showkat Aziz Russell identified as BTMA president[1]Bangladesh Textile Mills Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  The association's reference entry identifies Showkat Aziz Russell, managing director of Amber Denim Mills Limited and a Partex Group concern, as president of BTMA.

1. 1Bangladesh Textile Mills Associationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Bangladesh Textile Mills Association official websitebtmadhaka.com