Bangladesh is considering a ban on yarn imports through land ports to protect its domestic textile and spinning industry, according to Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman. This potential decision follows requests from entrepreneurs in the textile sector, who are concerned about the impact of smuggling and misdeclaration of yarn shipments.
Textile millers argue that significant quantities of fiber are smuggled through land ports, harming the local yarn industry.
While imports through seaports will continue, the government is reviewing whether to stop imports via land ports.
In January 2023, Bangladesh allowed yarn imports from India through four land ports—Benapole, Sonamasjid, Bhomra, and Banglabandha—after a surge in demand due to the pandemic. However, the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association has raised concerns about misdeclarations and unfair pricing practices at land ports, which lack testing facilities. The potential move to restrict imports through land ports aims to address these issues and ensure fair competition.
The decision will be made in the coming week, with stakeholders from various sectors offering their input.
