Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The government has planned to import cotton from India and Uzbekistan to solve problems at the country’s textile industry hit hard by the rising prices of raw materials on the global and domestic markets, the commerce minister said on Wednesday.

The issue of imports from India will be discussed during the commerce minister’s visit to the neighboring country this month, a commerce ministry statement said.

The government will also take steps to buy cotton from Uzbekistan, another leading cotton producer, Commerce Minister Faruk Khan said.

He was talking with the newly elected leaders of Bangladesh Specialised Textile Mills and Power Loom Industries Association at his secretariat in the capital, Dhaka on Wednesday.

BBN/SSR/AD-14Oct10-12:18 am (BST)