Monoj Kumar Roy, Joint Secretary (export) of the Commerce Ministry, recently revealed that, the government during an inter-ministerial meeting would decide on banning cotton-waste exports.
The government's move is based on the complaints made by the denim fabrics and terry towel producers who claimed that, cotton-waste export is giving rise to scarcity of the commodity in the domestic market.
In pursuance of the same, the Textile and Jute Ministry had forwarded a letter to the Commerce Ministry, seeking a ban on export of cotton-waste, as its prices have risen considerably in the domestic market.
The government, in June 2008, fixed the minimum export price of the commodity at $1.60 per kg, so as to avert the unscrupulous traders from exporting commodity at a lower price.
However, owing to the rise in the global prices of raw cotton, the cotton-waste prices in the domestic markets have also gone up.
Bangladesh Terry Towel and Linen Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BTTLMEA) in September last year, forwarded a letter to Bangladesh Tariff Commission, requesting the government to ban cotton-waste exports, in order to ensure availability of the same in the domestic market at a price fixed by the government.