BusinessToday24 Correspondent, Dhaka: India has abruptly suspended the import of at least seven categories of goods from Bangladesh— including ready-made garments, processed foods, and fruits—via land ports. The decision was announced through a notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under India’s Ministry of Commerce, on May 17.
According to the new directive, Bangladeshi ready-made garments will now only be allowed into India through the seaports of Kolkata and Mumbai, not via any land ports. No Bangladeshi goods will be allowed entry through any Land Customs Stations (LCS) or Integrated Check Posts (ICP) in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, or Mizoram.
The notification clarified that this restriction does not apply to transit goods destined for Nepal and Bhutan. Additionally, items such as fish, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), edible oil, and stone-based products are exempt from the ban.
The restricted items include:
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Ready-made garments
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Fruits and fruit-flavored drinks
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Carbonated beverages
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Processed food products
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Cotton and cotton waste
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Plastic and PVC items
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Wooden furniture
Earlier, on April 9, India also revoked the transit facility previously granted to Bangladesh, which was used to export goods to the Middle East and Europe.
In a related development, Bangladesh had imposed a ban on importing Indian yarn through land ports from April 15, following pressure from the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA). The BTMA alleged that importers were underreporting the value of Indian yarn, thereby harming the domestic textile industry. However, garment manufacturers in Bangladesh opposed this ban.
India is a major market for Bangladesh’s processed food, plastic goods, and furniture. Exporters fear that the latest restrictions could deliver a significant blow to these sectors.
According to data from the National Board of Revenue (NBR), around 75 percent of Bangladesh’s yarn imports from India still arrive via sea, indicating that imports have not been entirely halted by the land-route ban.
Garment exporters argue that shifting exports from land to sea will increase transportation costs and extend delivery times.
Bangladesh Bank data shows that Bangladesh annually imports goods worth approximately USD 9 billion from India, while exporting only around USD 1.56 billion in return. In the 2024 fiscal year alone, imports from India stood at nearly USD 9 billion, compared to only USD 1.56 billion in exports. Experts warn that such a growing trade imbalance could lead to further strain if trade barriers continue to escalate.
Mohammad Hatem, President of BKMEA, commented, “While the garment sector may not be significantly affected, the processed food and other sectors could face serious setbacks. Such retaliatory measures harm bilateral trade relations between the two countries.”
