BTMA welcomes Bangladesh’s ban on yarn imports via land ports to support local mills

The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) has welcomed the government’s move to ban yarn imports through land ports, saying it will strengthen the country’s textile industry and promote domestic value addition.

In a statement, BTMA said the decision would benefit backward linkage industries by reducing reliance on foreign sources and conserving foreign exchange. The association noted that shifting imports to sea ports would place them under full control of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), helping to prevent irregularities and increase government revenue. It also stated that the move could curb money laundering through hundi channels.

The move stems from a directive issued by the NBR on April 13, which officially halted yarn imports through land ports. Prior to this, the commerce ministry had reviewed appeals from local textile mill owners and, in March, instructed relevant authorities to take appropriate action.

While the BTMA and textile millers have lauded the decision as a long-awaited reform, readymade garment (RMG) exporters have voiced concerns, fearing it may increase sourcing costs and cause delays in raw material procurement. The debate highlights growing tensions between upstream textile producers and downstream apparel exporters in Bangladesh.