Raw cotton now recognised as agricultural product

The government has officially recognised raw cotton as an agricultural product aiming to bolstering domestic cotton cultivation. 
The decision was taken during a meeting of the council of advisers, chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the Chief Adviser’s Office on Monday.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed reporters at the Foreign Service Academy following the meeting, stating that the approval will pave the way for farmers and producers to access agricultural loans for cultivating raw cotton. This is expected to remove financial barriers and encourage investment in local cotton farming.

Highlighting the strategic importance of the decision, Alam noted that enhancing domestic cotton production aligns with Bangladesh’s goal of expanding its garments industry. “If we can grow cotton locally, it will reduce dependence on imports and strengthen the textile sector,” he said.

In another key decision, the council of advisers scrapped a proposal to establish 'Bangladesh Energy Port Limited (BEPL)' under a public-private partnership model in Chattogram. No further details were provided about the cancellation.