Energy shortages, particularly inadequate gas and electricity supplies, have emerged as the biggest obstacles to Bangladesh’s export growth, according to three leading exporters who called for urgent improvements in infrastructure, education and the country’s global image.
The exporters made the observations at a discussion organised by HSBC Bangladesh on Tuesday at the Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka. The session focused on the challenges and prospects of Bangladesh’s export sector and was moderated by HSBC Bangladesh CEO Mahbub ur Rahman. The speakers were Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, chairman and CEO of PRAN-RFL Group; Enayetur Rahman, CEO and president of Ulkasemi; and Asif Ashraf, director and CEO of Urmi Group.At the event, HSBC Bangladesh also announced the 10th edition of its Export Excellence Awards 2026 to recognise outstanding contributions to the country’s export sector. All three speakers have previously received the award.
Enayetur Rahman said Bangladesh has significant potential to expand its presence in the global technology and semiconductor supply chain if the country can develop the necessary skills and improve its education system.”I studied at BUET and moved to Silicon Valley. There I realised that the demand for chips is enormous. Every technology requires chips,” he said.
Rahman returned to Bangladesh in 2007 and started Ulkasemi with four engineers. The company now employs around 600 engineers and serves about 100 US companies, he said.He added that around 40 of the company’s engineers work on chips for Apple phones, highlighting the potential of Bangladeshi engineers in highly sophisticated global industries.Rahman said Bangladesh has a large pool of hardworking people, but proper training is essential to turn that human resource into a competitive advantage.”Bangladesh has many people. They are hardworking. If they are properly trained, they can perform well,” he said, stressing that the education system needs major changes.
He called for stronger science education from the school level and said Bangladesh should take advantage of the rapidly growing global demand for semiconductor chips.”Chip demand is increasing day by day across the world. We need to increase our participation in this sector,” Rahman said.
He also stressed the need to improve Bangladesh’s international image to attract more business and strengthen the country’s position in global markets.
PRAN-RFL Group Chairman and CEO Ahsan Khan Chowdhury said the HSBC Export Excellence Awards initiative was helping encourage businesses and promote Bangladesh’s export ambitions.PRAN began its journey with agricultural products, and the company now aims to take a wider range of Bangladeshi products to international markets, he said.”We want to spread the Bangladeshi brand. We want to achieve 20% growth in the agriculture sector,” Chowdhury said.
He praised Bangladeshi workers and entrepreneurs but warned that infrastructure deficiencies could prevent exporters from reaching their full potential.”Bangladesh’s people are good and hardworking. They want to work with entrepreneurs. But exports will not move forward unless infrastructure problems are resolved,” he said.
Asif Ashraf, director and CEO of Urmi Group, said innovation and creativity would be essential for expanding exports in the coming years.”Our goal is to increase exports through greater innovation and creativity in the future,” Ashraf said.
However, he identified energy supply as the most immediate challenge facing his business.”Energy is now our main problem. It needs to be resolved quickly,” he said, adding that timely access to raw materials would also remain a major challenge for exporters
The comments come at a time when Bangladesh’s export-oriented industries are facing persistent disruptions from gas shortages and unreliable energy supplies. Manufacturers, particularly those dependent on continuous gas and electricity, have reported production interruptions and difficulties in meeting delivery schedules.
Summing up the concerns raised by the exporters, HSBC Bangladesh CEO Mahbub ur Rahman said infrastructure, including electricity and gas supply, is currently the country’s biggest problem.”If Bangladesh wants to increase exports, these problems must be resolved,” he said.
The exporters also stressed that Bangladesh needs to move beyond dependence on low-cost production and build greater competitiveness through technology, skilled manpower, innovation and product diversification.
Improving education and technical training could help the country move into higher-value industries, while better energy and logistics infrastructure would enable existing exporters to increase production and meet international delivery requirements.
The speakers also suggested that strengthening Bangladesh’s global brand image should accompany these reforms. A stronger reputation for quality, reliability and innovation could help Bangladeshi companies enter new markets and attract more international buyers.
With global demand shifting toward technology-intensive products and more diversified supply chains, the exporters believe Bangladesh has an opportunity to expand beyond traditional sectors such as garments and agricultural products.
But they cautioned that this opportunity could be lost if energy shortages, infrastructure bottlenecks, skills gaps and delays in obtaining raw materials remain unresolved.For exporters, therefore, ensuring reliable gas and electricity supplies is no longer simply an industrial concern-it has become a critical requirement for maintaining competitiveness and sustaining Bangladesh’s export growth.
