Lift ban on yarn import through land ports: Indian high commissioner

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi today urged Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir to lift restrictions on yarn imports through land ports to strengthen trade ties between Bangladesh and India.

The meeting at the commerce ministry in Dhaka also discussed reopening closed border haats and bringing land ports into full operation, according to a statement released from the ministry.

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Highlighting current bilateral dynamics, Muktadir said trade between Bangladesh and India stands at around $13 billion, though it has slowed over the past one and a half years due to several obstacles.

The two sides discussed ways to identify those issues and make bilateral trade relations easier and more effective, with the minister noting that India remains Bangladesh’s second-largest trading partner after China.

To strengthen ties further, the minister said the two sides proposed forming a joint task force and developing digital infrastructure to foster cooperation between businesses, create new investment opportunities, and accelerate trade.

He expressed hope that the Indian high commissioner’s initiatives would take economic cooperation between the two neighbours to a new level.

The Indian high commissioner said while the two countries have some political and economic differences, ordinary people want development and progress, adding that both nations must work together for the future of the younger generation.

"Bangladesh and India are two independent and sovereign countries. Neither is bigger or smaller; everyone is equal. The two countries must continue to work on the basis of this equality," he said.

He noted that economic cooperation remains the most crucial factor in improving bilateral relations, as stronger economic ties naturally lead to greater cooperation in other areas.

Trivedi also stressed the importance of joint investment and production, pointing to the remarkable global success of Bangladesh’s ready-made garment sector.

India can support the sector by supplying zippers, machinery, buttons, and other inputs to increase mutual interdependence, he said.

The high commissioner added that he feels proud to see garments bearing the "Made in Bangladesh" label in international markets, adding that the sector could expand further through joint initiatives.