After an extended lockdown of almost a month, readymade garment industry in Bangladesh has resumed operations on a limited scale from 26 April.
But as the global supply chain remains disrupted still due to COVID-19 outbreak, availability of raw materials has emerged as one of the challenges towards smooth functioning of the textile and garment factories.
Even the cross-border trade between Bangladesh and India – which is a major supplier of raw materials to industries across the border – was called off, considering the rapid spread of coronavirus in both the countries.
However, in a major relief to the industries in Bangladesh, the country on Thursday approved unloading of Indian export vehicles at the no-man’s land with some minor restrictions.
Initially two vehicles from India were allowed to unload the goods at the no-man’s land.
The move follows after the Indian and Bangladesh business leaders decided to load-unload a total of 2,214 trucks, containing imported goods from India, in the no man’s land of Benapole-Petrapole check post.
The decision was taken at an emergency meeting held on Wednesday.
Due to the lockdown, Petrapole Port authorities could not start the export-import operations, for which thousands of loaded trucks had been waiting on the Indian side to enter Bangladesh, underlined the business leaders.
