It is safe to say that while our RMG industry has long been the engine of our economy, especially as it relates to export earnings, it is an industry that runs almost entirely on imported cotton. 

To that end, the news from Dinajpur - that farmers are increasingly turning to cotton cultivation - is an extremely encouraging sign that, beyond showing local success, also offers a glimpse that Bangladesh in the future could begin weaving from its own soil.

With relatively low input costs and strong yields, the crop is proving attractive to farmers as a profitable alternative to rice and other staples. While food crops will always be necessary, cotton cultivation directly aligns with the needs of our largest export sector - this is a fact that should not be ignored.

At present, domestic cotton meets only a fraction of national demand. Expanding cultivation could reduce our reliance on imports, save foreign currency, and strengthen the resilience of the RMG industry which, day by day, continues to face challenges as a result of global volatility.

The optimism is real, but it must be matched with fairness. Cotton pickers, who shoulder the hardest labour, do not earn liveable wages, and without better wages and protections, the promise of cotton risks being built on inequity - precisely what we do not want as we look to steer Bangladesh towards a new era built on equity and fairness. 

As such, what policymakers must ensure moving forward is fair distribution of benefits - through incentives, training, and access to quality seeds.

If we are successful, cotton can become not just profitable, but empowering for the future health of our country.