This study was undertaken to measure the current socioeconomic and profitability status of the traditional handloom producers living in Sirajganj district of Bangladesh. Primary data were collected from 60 randomly selected handloom owners. Two main products were considered in this study, i.e., sharee and gamcha . Descriptive statistics and cost-return analysis were performed to assess the present situation and profitability of handloom production. The Gini Coefficient and Lorenz Curve measured inequality among respondents. A log transformed multiple linear regression model was applied to explore the factors influencing handloom products production. Results revealed that most of the handloom weaving was financed through the weavers’ own capital and taking loans from the bank. The undiscounted benefit-cost ratios were 1.12 and 1.20 for sharee and gamcha, respectively, indicating both enterprises were profitable but gamcha was more profitable than sharee. The Gini Coefficient of handloom weavers’ income is less than 0.25. Results from the regression analysis revealed that human labour, yarn, color, and processing cost significantly impacted sharee and gamcha production. Therefore, efficient utilization of these resources in the production process of handloom products would be essential that can bring more profit for handloom production.

Background The ready-made garment (RMG) sector is a significant contributor to the economic growth of Bangladesh, accounting for 10% of the country’s GDP and more than 80% of its foreign exchange earnings. The workforce in this sector is predominantly made up of women, with 2.5 million women working in the industry. However, these women face numerous challenges in carrying out their culturally-expected household responsibilities, including childcare, due to severe resource constraints. As a result, the children of these working women have a higher incidence of malnutrition, particularly stunted growth. This study aims to identify the factors that contribute to stunting in children under the age of five whose mothers work in the RMG sector in Bangladesh. Methods The study collected data from 267 female RMG workers in the Gazipur district of Bangladesh using a simple random sampling technique. Chi-square tests were used to determine the associations between the factors influencing child stunting, and Multinomial Logit Models were used to estimate the prevalence of these factors. Results The study found that the prevalence of moderate and severe stunting among the children of RMG workers living in the Gazipur RMG hub was 19% and 20%, respectively. The study identified several significant predictors of child stunting, including the mother’s education level, nutritional knowledge, control over resources, receipt of antenatal care, household size, sanitation facilities, and childbirth weight. The study found that improving the mother’s education level, increasing household size, and receiving antenatal care during pregnancy were important factors in reducing the likelihood of child stunting. For example, if a mother’s education level increased from no education to primary or secondary level, the child would be 0.211 (0.071–0.627) and 0.384 (0.138–1.065) times more likely to have a normal weight and height, respectively, than to be moderately stunted. Conclusion The study highlights the challenges faced by working women in the RMG sector, who often receive minimal wages and have limited access to antenatal care services. To address these challenges, the study recommends policies that support antenatal care for working-class mothers, provide daycare facilities for their children, and implement a comprehensive social safety net program that targets child nutrition. Improving the socioeconomic status of mothers is also critical to reducing child malnutrition in this population.