Photo: BSS

SYLHET, Aug 22, 2026 (BSS) - Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir today said businesses from India and the United States (US) have expressed interest in investing in Bangladesh, while putting forward a number of proposals and suggestions for creating a more investment-friendly environment.

"Indian and US businesspeople have shown interest in investing in Bangladesh. They have also made some proposals and given suggestions to make the investment environment more conducive," he told journalists after attending a law and order meeting at Sylhet Metropolitan Police headquarters this afternoon.

Regarding Indian investors, the minister said some of the Indian businesspeople who recently visited Bangladesh have already invested in the country.

He said Indian businessmen have expressed interest in making the land ports between Bangladesh and India fully operational.

"They have said that the closure or limited operation of land ports increases the cost of raw materials for Indian businesses," Muktadir said.

He added that Indian business representatives have proposed forming a taskforce with Bangladeshi businesses for investment in infrastructure and a trust with local businesses for developing digital infrastructure. 

The proposals have been welcomed, he said.

The minister also said a US trade delegation has expressed interest in investing in Bangladesh and offered several proposals and suggestions to create a favourable investment climate. 

"The government is considering those proposals," he added.

Replying to a question about tariffs imposed by the United States, Muktadir said the reciprocal tariffs were not imposed only on Bangladesh, as similar measures had been applied to various countries.

"Currently, a 10 percent tariff has been imposed on Bangladesh in addition to the general tariff. It is one of the lowest rates," he said.

Asked about Bangladesh's trade deficit, which is currently more than $27 billion, the commerce minister said the country has imported more than it exported since independence.

"Many countries in the world have higher imports compared to exports. So, it is not an unusual situation," he said.

However, he stressed the need to increase exports, saying higher exports would also lead to higher imports.

"We need to increase the overall volume of trade-both exports and imports-many times. The volume of trade should be commensurate with the size of our economy," he said.

Citing Vietnam as an example, Muktadir said the Southeast Asian country's combined trade volume of exports and imports has reached around $800 billion, while Bangladesh's total trade volume is around $600 billion.

"Bangladesh's trade volume is not proportionate to the size of its economy," he observed.

On the law and order situation in Sylhet, the minister said the government does not want to see drugs, online gambling or activities of juvenile gangs in the city.

Earlier, the minister held a lengthy meeting with Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sarwar Morshed and senior officials under him to discuss the law and order situation.

Later, Muktadir visited the proposed site of a new BSCIC industrial estate on around 188 acres of land near the Shahparan (R) bypass area in South Surma.

During the visit, he said around 110 acres of the proposed industrial estate could be allocated as net plots after excluding common spaces and other facilities.

"The number of plots will be determined based on the size of industries," he said.

The minister said discussions had already been held with the road authorities regarding upgrading the existing bypass road into a six-lane highway. The development project proposal (DPP) is being prepared, he added.

The highway will serve as an alternative route to the Dhaka-Sylhet main highway, he said.