The interim government has banned importing Indian cotton through land ports as the cheap imports hurt local producers.

On Tuesday, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) issued a circular in this regard, saying the ban would come into effect immediately.

Indian cotton can be imported through seaports and other routes, it said.

Indian cotton imported through overland routes, like railway and land ports, is priced significantly lower than price determined at Chattogram Custom House.

To this end, the cotton is significantly cheaper than similar local varieties and those imported from China, Turkey and Uzbekistan.

In February, the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) placed demand urging the government to ban Indian cotton imports through land ports to save local industries.

Next month, the Trade and Tariff Commission asked the NBR to take measures to ensure cotton are imported only through sea ports, until necessary infrastructure are established on overland routes to properly fix imported cotton prices.