Bangladesh has impose ban on export of raw jute since November 2 last year, but as jute millers of the Himalayan nation have urged Bangladesh to help their local industry, the Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday said that the government will export raw jute to Nepal..

The exports will be on a case-to-case basis and as per the demand from the businesses of Nepal, Ahmed said.

The minister spoke at a meeting with a Nepalese business delegation at his secretariat in Dhaka.

Mukesh Upadhayaya, first vice-president of the Chamber of Industries, Morang in Nepal said that the jute industry in Nepal is largely dependent on raw jute from Bangladesh and India, due to a lack of raw jute supplies from Bangladesh and India, twelve big jute mills that employed 20,000 workers in Nepal are about to suspend their production.

Bangladesh used to export jute to different countries, including Nepal, China and the Middle East.

The Bangladesh government imposed ban as demand for raw jute increased in the country after the implementation of the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010.

The government has made it mandatory for traders to use jute bags and sacks to pack paddy, rice, pulses, wheat, fertiliser and sugar.

The first-time rule violators will face a fine of Tk 50,000 or a year in prison; second-time offenders would be subject to both the penalties, according to the law.

Upadhayaya, who led the Nepalese delegation said that Bangladesh will also be benefitted if jute is supplied to Nepal, as many Bangladeshi spinners import jute yarn from Nepal to meet their domestic demand.

Bangladesh imported goods worth $11.50 million from Nepal and exported goods worth $25.05 million to Nepal in fiscal 2014-15. In the previous year Bangladesh imported goods worth $21.50 million and exported goods worth $13.68 million, according to data from the commerce ministry.

The balance in bilateral trade between the two countries is tilted towards Bangladesh