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Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) has reiterated its demand to reopen Benapole land port for yarn import from India which has been opposed by textile mill owners.
In a statement Tuesday, the BKMEA claimed the price of the homespun fabrics is higher than that of Indian brand.
Dispelling some of the allegations raised by the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), the BKMEA said the price of local yarn marked a further rise to $ 2.60 per kg from $ 2.55.
"Besides, some of the spinning mills are now reluctant to supply cotton against the letter of credits received earlier," the BKMEA statement added.
It further said that BKMEA is demanding import of yarn only through back to back LC adding not a single kg yarn was smuggled through this mechanism earlier.
Dispelling the BTMA allegation, the BKMEA said that significant infrastructure development took place at Benapole land port.
"If government fails to reopen the land port for yarn import, country's knitwear sector will face a setback casting a negative impact on the whole economy," the BKMEA said.
BTMA opposed knitwear entrepreneurs' move as they said it lacks effective infrastructure to check smuggling.
The government imposed a ban on yarn import through land port in March 2001 on the grounds that it prompts smuggling through false declaration.
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