BTMA calls for urgent govt action to curb unfair yarn import advantages
The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) has called for urgent government intervention to stop what it described as unfair advantages in yarn imports that are severely affecting local spinning mills.
The demand was raised at a meeting on Monday (26 January) between BTMA President Showkat Aziz Russell and senior officials of domestic textile mills, particularly spinning mill representatives.
The association later shared details of the meeting in a press release issued last night (26 January).
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According to mill representatives, domestic spinning mills are facing heavy losses due to an unusually high volume of yarn imports under duty-free bonded warehouse facilities. They alleged that these imports benefit from incentives and subsidies provided by neighbouring countries' governments, creating unequal competition that is pushing local industries towards an existential crisis.
Speaking at the meeting, BTMA President Showkat Aziz Russell said that, in line with previously announced programmes to protect domestic industries, the decision to keep all textile mills closed from 1 February would remain in effect.
He warned that without the immediate withdrawal of existing unfair advantages in yarn imports and the adoption of effective policy measures, the country's textile sector would face severe consequences.
He also noted that yarn imports from India have increased by approximately 137% over the past year compared to the previous year. He said that around 50 spinning mills have already shut down, while at least another 50 are at risk of closure.
As a result, nearly 200,000 workers and employees have lost their jobs, signalling a serious social and economic crisis, according to him.
During the meeting, senior mill officials urged the government to take swift and effective steps to exclude 10-30 count yarn from bonded warehouse facilities, in line with recommendations from the Ministry of Commerce.
Expressing hope for a positive outcome, the BTMA president said the government would take prompt and effective policy decisions to safeguard domestic industries, investments and the large workforce employed in the textile sector.
