A delegation from the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) held a crucial meeting with the Director General of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) at the BGB Headquarters.
During the discussions, BTMA leaders voiced serious concerns regarding the smuggling of substantial quantities of textile products and yarn into Bangladesh from neighboring countries. They highlighted the use of hidden compartments in stone and sand dump trucks, as well as manipulations occurring at land ports where textiles are being imported beyond the declared quantities. These illicit activities are negatively impacting the domestic textile industry.
The BTMA delegation called for the closure of all Border Hats and the installation of CCTV cameras to enhance surveillance in border areas. They assured the BGB of their full cooperation and indicated that they had already requested the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to implement stricter measures against smuggling.
In response, the Director General of BGB confirmed that all Border Hats have been temporarily closed and noted that necessary steps have already been taken to bolster border security to thwart smuggling activities. He pledged to intensify efforts in the future to safeguard local textile and garment industries, committing to a collaborative approach with BTMA to combat the smuggling of yarn and textiles along the Bangladesh-India border.
The delegation was led by Mohd Khorshed Alam, Director and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Membership and Development, accompanied by fellow BTMA Directors Shahid Alam, B.M. Shoeb, and Md. Kamrul Hassan, as well as Brigadier General Md. Zakir Hossain, Secretary General of BTMA. Senior officials from the BGB, including the Additional DG (Operation & Training), Bureau Chief, and other relevant personnel, joined the dialogue to discuss these pressing issues.
