Published: 12:14 AM, 25 August 2026
Let's work together to drive forward business ties: Dinesh Trivedi
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi meets Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir at the Secretariat on Monday. PID
Bangladesh and India discussed lifting Dhaka's restrictions on Indian yarn imports through land ports, alongside reopening closed border haats and bringing land ports into full operation as the two neighbouring countries seek to strengthen bilateral trade.
The issues came up at a meeting between Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi at the Secretariat in Dhaka yesterday, according to a ministry statement.
Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said bilateral trade currently stands at around $13 billion, but trade activities had slowed somewhat over the past one and a half years because of several obstacles.
Discussions were held on how to identify these problems and make trade relations between the two countries easier and more effective in the future, the statement said.
India is Bangladesh's second-largest trading partner after China, and the two countries have longstanding economic ties, said the Commerce Minister.
He said the meeting focused on making land ports fully operational, reopening losed border haats and withdrawing the existing restriction on yarn imports through land ports.
The two sides also discussed forming a joint task force and developing digital infrastructure to increase cooperation between businesses, create new investment opportunities and accelerate trade.
Abdul Muktadir expressed hope that the Indian high commissioner's initiatives would further strengthen Bangladesh-India relations and take economic cooperation to a new level.
Dinesh Trivedi said that while the two countries have some political and economic differences, ordinary people want development and progress. Both countries, he added, must work together for the future of the younger generation.
"Bangladesh and India are two independent and sovereign countries. Neither is bigger or smaller; everyone is equal. The two countries must continue to work on the basis of this equality," he said.
He said economic cooperation is the most important factor in improving bilateral relations, adding that stronger economic ties would lead to greater cooperation in other areas.
Dinesh Trivedi also stressed the importance of joint investment and production, pointing to the global success of Bangladesh's ready-made garment sector.
He said India can support the sector by supplying zippers, machinery, buttons and other inputs to increase mutual interdependence between the two countries.
The Indian High Commissioner said he feels proud to see garments bearing the "Made in Bangladesh" label in international markets.
The garment sector could expand further through joint initiatives between the two countries, he added.
