Smuggling syndicates threaten domestic shaving blade industry
Organized smuggling syndicates are orchestrating a massive evasion of state revenue that threatens to dismantle Bangladesh’s domestic shaving blade industry, placing thousands of jobs at risk.
Following the departure of a major multinational distributor, these criminal networks have flooded the market with contraband, forcing compliant manufacturers to endure huge losses and sparking an urgent call for government intervention to prevent industrial collapse.
The crisis within the domestic market reached a tipping point following the termination of the distribution agreement between Procter & Gamble (P&G) and Gillette India in Bangladesh on December 31, 2024.
While legal import channels have remained entirely closed for over a year, the retail and wholesale markets remain saturated with Gillette products brought in through illegal channels. This vacuum, created by the absence of a legal distributor, has been aggressively exploited by organized crime syndicates.
Their operations directly undermine compliant domestic manufacturers, specifically Sharp Blade, Champion Blade, Vidyut, and Matador. These local companies operate with integrity by importing raw materials legally and fulfilling all tax and VAT obligations, yet they now face an existential threat from cheap, tax-evading contraband.
Law enforcement agencies and military personnel have ramped up efforts throughout the year to stem the flow of illegal goods, with significant seizures recorded primarily in border regions.
On April 26, 2025, major newspapers reported that the Army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized smuggled goods worth Tk 7.40 crore in Sylhet, which included a heavy volume of shaving blades.
On July 18, 2025, BSS reported that BGB and Army personnel recovered contraband valued at Tk 6 crore during operations in the Sylhet border areas.
On August 27, 2025, subsequent BSS reports confirmed the seizure of another shipment of smuggled goods worth Tk 4.63 crore in the Sylhet region.
