Dhaka, Jan. 31 -- Primary textile-industry owners have urged Bangladesh Bank to increase the Export Development Fund (EDF) limit and cut its interest rate to help protect the export competitiveness of the country's primary textile sector, which is facing mounting financial and cost pressures.

The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) President Showkat Aziz Russell made the appeal in a letter sent on January 26 to Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur, calling for policy rationalisation of the EDF to ensure uninterrupted raw material supply for export-oriented industries.

In the letter, Mr Russell said BTMA is the largest representative trade body of the primary textile sector, with 1,869 member mills engaged in spinning, weav...