Bangladesh Suspends Yarn Imports from India via Land Ports

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has suspended the import of yarn from India through five major land ports with immediate effect, in a move aimed at protecting domestic textile mills and ensuring fair competition in the market.

According to a notification issued on Tuesday, yarn import has been halted through the Benapole, Bhomra, Sonamasjid, Banglabandha, and Burimari land ports. However, imports through seaports and other non-land routes will remain unaffected.

Confirming the development, NBR’s Public Relations Officer Al-Amin Sheikh stated that the new directive supersedes a previous order issued on August 27, 2024, and has already come into effect.

The decision follows a long-standing demand by the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), which in February this year urged the government to stop yarn imports through land ports, citing serious damage to the local textile industry caused by the inflow of cheaper Indian yarn.

Responding to the industry’s concerns, the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission sent a recommendation to the NBR in March, calling for restrictions on land-based yarn imports. In its letter to NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan, the commission argued that quality control infrastructure at land ports was inadequate to verify yarn counts in accordance with international standards.

The commission recommended allowing imports only through seaports until proper inspection facilities are developed at land entry points. Acting on this recommendation, the NBR chairman approved the new restrictions.

Industry insiders note that large quantities of yarn produced in India's northern and southern regions are stockpiled in Kolkata before being exported to Bangladesh via land ports. Due to their comparatively lower prices, Indian yarns have flooded the local market, undercutting domestic producers and weakening their ability to compete.