Bangladesh’s knitwear exporters are seeking a reversal of a new restriction on knit fabric imports after a provision they said had been identified as an error during policy discussions remained in the final Import Policy Order.
The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) has urged the government to suspend or withdraw the clause that states “knit fabrics shall not be importable” by fully export-oriented industries, warning that the restriction could disrupt export production and the release of imported fabrics already linked to export orders.
In a recent letter to the commerce minister, BKMEA president Mohammad Hatem said the restriction was discussed earlier with stakeholders, where exporters were informed that the provision had been included mistakenly and would be corrected.
However, the same clause remained in the final policy issued on 24 August 2026.
The association said the issue has now moved beyond a policy disagreement, as imported fabrics have already arrived at Chattogram port and some exporters have opened letters of credit before the new restriction came into effect.
BKMEA warned that failure to clear those consignments could affect production schedules and prevent exporters from completing shipments within buyers’ deadlines.
The association argued that exporters need the ability to source fabrics from both domestic and overseas suppliers because international buyers often demand specific materials, quality standards, designs and product variations that may not always be available from local producers.
The demand comes at a challenging time for Bangladesh’s knitwear sector, particularly fabric manufacturers, which are facing production difficulties due to severe gas shortages, according to BKMEA.
The association said restricting imported fabrics while domestic production is under pressure could create additional challenges for exporters competing in global markets.
BKMEA also said foreign fabric sourcing is sometimes required to meet buyer instructions and commercial requirements, making flexibility in raw material sourcing essential for export-oriented industries.
The organisation requested the government to suspend or withdraw the restriction under Section 25 of the Import Policy Order 2023–2026 to ensure uninterrupted production and export activities.
Copies of the letter were sent to the commerce ministry secretary, National Board of Revenue chairman and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association president.
