Once Bangladesh was a major exporters of textiles, silk and sugar in the eighteenth century, but it had experienced deindustrialisation during the last 200 years of colonial rule and the negligence of the Pakistani military regime. As a result Bangladesh had a narrow industrial base when it became Independent in 1971. The Industrial sector grew at an annual compound rate of 5.32 percent during the period 1972-73 to 1990-91. The growth rate in manufacturing fell from 3.87 percent during 1972-73 period.
Industries in Bangladesh are categorized into 3 groups : 1. Small and Cottage industries, 2. Middle Scale, 3. Large scale. Cottage industry is defined as an industrial unit run by the family members within the capital of Tk 5,00,000.According to Planning Commission there were about 32,000 small industries and 3,83,000 cottage industries in 1990. These industries account for for 4.5 percent of GDP. Employment generation is about 5 million people directly and indirectly which accounts 78 percent of the work force.There are 20001 light enggineering workshop in and around Dhaka,
Power industry 
Map showing the feasibility of Industry
At the peak of nationalisation drive in 1973, Govt share in the total assets of the manufacturing sector stood at 92 percent and the Govt took over the management of 800 manufacturing units. The number of State owned enterprise has now been reduced to 160. Still public share in the manufacturing sector is 40 percent which are supervised by 6 Govt. owned corporatins.Steel and heavy engineering units are 21.
The privatisation efforts are divided in 4 stages. 1973-81, 1982-86, 1987-90, and 1991 to update. During 1981-82 no. increased from 3356 to 23,752. and so on.
Bangladesh is expected to employ only 0.4 million new workers this yearbut the faces uncertainty due to recession said ILO.
