Bangladesh is the world's second largest exporter of garments and textiles after China, making it one of the most important players in the global textile industry. More than 4.5 million people in Bangladesh work in the textile industry, the majority of whom are women. By 2021, the government's stated goal is to continue to grow the industry and increase annual exports of textiles and garments to a value of US$50 billion, nearly double the 2016 figure.

Legislation and enforcement has evolved significantly in many areas since the Rana Plaza disaster. These include union representation, minimum wage, and job security. Nevertheless, ILO’s International Labour Standards are still not being met in many factories. The continued growth of the industry also has an impact on the environment: In particular, the production of textiles (e.g. dyeing, printing) involves very high consumption of water, chemicals and energy.