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রবিবার, ২৩ আগস্ট ২০২৬
৭ ভাদ্র ১৪৩৩
৭ ভাদ্র ১৪৩৩
Saturday, 22nd August 2026
Indian, US Businesses Interested in Investing in Bangladesh, Commerce Minister Says
23 August 2026 00:08 AM
NEWS DESK
Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said Indian and US businesses have expressed interest in investing in Bangladesh and have offered proposals and recommendations to help create a more investment-friendly environment.
Speaking to journalists after attending a law-and-order meeting with the Sylhet Metropolitan Police on Saturday, the minister said several Indian businesspeople who have visited Bangladesh had already invested in the country, while others were keen to expand investment.
Indian investors have also expressed interest in making the land ports between Bangladesh and India fully operational, Muktadir said.
According to the minister, Indian businesses have complained that the closure or limited operation of land ports increases the cost of raw materials. They have also proposed forming a task force with Bangladeshi businesses to promote investment in infrastructure and establishing a trust with local businesses to develop digital infrastructure.
Muktadir welcomed the proposals and said they had been conveyed to leaders of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).
A US trade delegation has also shown interest in investing in Bangladesh, the minister said. The delegation has made several recommendations on creating a favourable environment for investment, which the government is considering, he added.
Bangladesh-US Tariff
Asked about tariffs imposed by the United States, Muktadir said the measures were not directed solely at Bangladesh, noting that reciprocal tariffs had been imposed on a number of countries.
He said Bangladesh is currently subject to an additional 10% tariff beyond the regular tariff rate, describing it as one of the lowest rates among the countries affected.
Trade Deficit
Responding to a question about Bangladesh's trade deficit, which currently exceeds $27 billion, the commerce minister said the country had imported more than it exported since independence.
He noted that many countries have higher imports than exports and said this was not necessarily abnormal.
However, Muktadir stressed the need to increase Bangladesh's exports. As exports grow, imports are also likely to increase, he said, adding that the country's overall trade volume should expand significantly.
“Trade volume needs to be in proportion to the size of the economy,” he said.
Citing Vietnam as an example, Muktadir said the Southeast Asian country's combined import and export volume had reached around $800 billion, while Bangladesh's total trade volume was approximately $600 billion.
He said Bangladesh's trade volume was not fully aligned with the size of its economy.
Focus on Law and Order in Sylhet
Muktadir also spoke about maintaining law and order in Sylhet, saying the government wanted to see an end to drug-related activities in the city.
“We do not want to see drugs in Sylhet,” he said, adding that authorities also wanted to prevent online gambling and the activities of teenage gangs in the city.
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