Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has requested the government to give registration to its buying houses as associate members. The Textile Ministry in a circular issued on April 1, 2019 made it mandatory for apparel buying houses to get registered with Department of Textiles (DoT). BGMEA has been giving registration certificates to buying houses as its associate members. Until now, BGMEA has registered 1,500 buying houses as its associate members.

In August 2019, BGMEA also sent a letter to the director general of DoT seeking registration for the buying houses who are associate members of the association. However, the request was declined by the department who asked these buying houses to gain membership from their respective associations. The department unilaterally held the Bangladesh Garment Buying House Association responsible for hampering the interests of 1,500 apparel buying houses.

It was mentioned in the letter that the prices of RMG items are being reduced day by day due to uncontrolled buying houses and giving registrations arbitrarily by the associations concerned.