Bangladesh and India held talks on reopening closed border markets and lifting a ban on yarn imports by land, as the two sides discussed ways to make bilateral trade easier and more effective.

The meeting at the secretariat in Dhaka brought together Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir and Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi. India is Bangladesh’s second-largest trading partner after China.

“Some obstacles have emerged over the past year and a half, which have slowed commercial activity,” Muktadir said. “We discussed how to identify those problems and make trade between the two countries easier and more effective in future.”

The meeting covered bringing land ports to full capacity, reopening closed border haats (markets) and withdrawing the existing ban on yarn imports by land.

A joint task force and digital infrastructure development were also proposed to create new investment opportunities, expand business ties and accelerate trade, the commerce minister said. He expressed hope that Bangladesh-India relations would strengthen further under the high commissioner’s initiative.

Trivedi said Bangladesh and India were independent, sovereign and equal, and that economic cooperation was the most important factor in improving ties. Stronger economic relations would also increase cooperation in other areas, he said.

The Indian high commissioner emphasised joint investment and production, saying India could supply inputs such as zips, machinery and buttons to Bangladesh’s successful garment sector, further increasing mutual dependence between the two countries.

“I feel proud when I see garments labelled ‘Made in Bangladesh’ in the international market,” he said, adding that Bangladesh’s garment sector could expand further through joint initiatives.