Beyond the Stereotype: Rethinking Bangladesh’s Textile Industry exposes a critical gap between perception of Bangladesh versus reality. Today, Bangladesh stands as one of the most advanced manufacturing hubs in the global apparel industry. It leads the world in green-certified garment factories. It has reformed its labor laws, built a robust regulatory infrastructure, and pioneered circular fashion systems at scale. Over 4.5 million workers—most of them women—are employed in an industry that has become central not only to the country’s economy, but to the global supply chain, with textile exports reaching over 150 countries. Factory safety systems have been overhauled, union representation has expanded fivefold, and environmental standards have become embedded in national policy. In key areas, Bangladesh is setting—not following—the global standard. Yet, global media narratives have not kept pace. In much of the Western press, Bangladesh remains anchored in 2013: a country defined by tragedy and ethical risk. A decade after the Rana Plaza collapse triggered international outrage, the story has barely moved forward. Progress is treated as provisional. Innovation is ignored. Reform is either downplayed or doubted. In this report, Taiwo Meghoma, Uchenna Ekwo, and Nathalie Beasnael set out to correct that record to explain why it matters. Bangladesh Report FINAL