President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called for stronger local expertise and research to reduce Bangladesh’s reliance on foreign specialists and improve the long-term competitiveness of its textile industry.

He made the remarks during a meeting with a seven-member delegation from Bangladesh University of Textiles (Butex), led by Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Julhas Uddin, at Bangabhaban on Sunday, according to a press release.

The president stressed the need to develop skilled textile engineers capable of meeting industry demands and competing in international markets, saying stronger domestic expertise could create more employment opportunities for graduates at home and abroad.

He also called for increasing local cotton production by encouraging farmers, reducing production costs and improving coordination between the agriculture and textile sectors.

Highlighting the need to diversify raw materials, Mirza Fakhrul emphasised research into extracting fibres from locally available resources, including jute, pineapple leaves and banana plants. He also called for exploring the potential of synthetic yarn production.

During the meeting, the Butex delegation outlined the university’s contributions to the textile and apparel industries and sought support for expanding its academic and research capacity.

Its demands included establishing modern research laboratories, recruiting additional staff, increasing budgetary allocations, securing land in Purbachal, Dhaka, for a second campus, and creating a separate Bangladesh Civil Service cadre titled BCS (Textile).

The president advised the university authorities to contact the relevant ministries to address the demands and assured them of his cooperation.

The delegation also discussed Butex’s second convocation, scheduled for March next year, and invited the president to preside over the ceremony. He accepted the invitation.

Other members of the delegation included Prof Dr Md Ahsan Habib, dean of the Faculty of Textile Management and Business Studies; Prof Shilpi Akter, dean of the Faculty of Textile Engineering; Prof Dr Hasina Akhtar, dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering; Prof Dr Rasheda Begum Dina, dean of the Faculty of Textile Chemical Engineering; and Prof Dr Lamia Zahir of the Faculty of Fashion Design and Apparel Engineering.

Engineer Sanjida Islam Tuli, a member of parliament and former Butex student, was also present, along with the president’s military secretary, secretary and press secretary.