Dhaka, April 26 -- The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) has described the current period as the most critical in the history of the country's apparel industry, citing a sustained negative growth trend in exports for the first time.

In its formal budget proposals for the 2026-27 fiscal, submitted to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) today (Sunday), the association revealed that knitwear export earnings plummeted by 6.42 percent in March 2026 compared to the previous year.

BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem said this while placing a budget proposal to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on behalf of the association, in a formal meeting with the revenue board, held at NBR Building in Agargaon.

NBR Chairman...