Indian, US Businesses Keen to Invest in Bangladesh: Minister

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir speaks to journalists after attending a law and order meeting at Sylhet Metropolitan Police headquarters on 22 August 2026.

Businesses from India and the United States have expressed interest in investing in Bangladesh, while proposing measures to improve the country's investment climate, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said Saturday.

“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.

Regarding Indian investors, the minister said several Indian businesspeople who recently visited Bangladesh had already invested in the country.

He said Indian businesses were particularly interested in making Bangladesh-India land ports fully operational, noting that limited operations or closures increase the cost of raw materials for Indian companies.

Indian business representatives have also proposed forming a taskforce with Bangladeshi businesses to invest in infrastructure and establishing a trust with local businesses to develop digital infrastructure, he said.

“The proposals have been welcomed,” Muktadir added.

The minister said a US trade delegation had also expressed interest in investing in Bangladesh and submitted proposals aimed at creating a more favourable investment environment.

“The government is considering those proposals,” he said.

Trade and Tariffs

Asked about US tariffs, Muktadir said the reciprocal tariffs imposed by Washington applied to several countries, not just Bangladesh.

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

Regarding Bangladesh's trade deficit, which he said currently exceeds $27 billion, the minister noted that the country has historically imported more than it exported.

He stressed, however, that Bangladesh needs to expand both exports and overall trade.

“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 country's combined export and import trade was around $800 billion, compared with roughly $600 billion for Bangladesh.

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

Sylhet Investment and Infrastructure

The minister also said the government would not tolerate drugs, online gambling or juvenile gang activities in Sylhet.

Earlier, he held a meeting with Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sarwar Morshed and senior officials to discuss the city's law and order situation.

Later, Muktadir visited the proposed site of a new BSCIC industrial estate covering about 188 acres near the Shahparan bypass area in South Surma.

He said around 110 acres could be developed as industrial plots after excluding common areas and other facilities.

Discussions have also been held with road authorities to upgrade the existing bypass into a six-lane highway, he said, adding that a development project proposal is being prepared.

The proposed highway would provide an alternative route to the Dhaka-Sylhet main highway.