In a major policy shift, the Government of India has banned the import of certain Bangladeshi goods—notably readymade garments and processed food items—through Indian ports. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, issued a notification on Saturday, effectively curtailing a key segment of India-Bangladesh cross-border trade.
🚫 What’s Banned? The new trade restriction prohibits the import of the following Bangladeshi products via Indian land ports:
👕 Readymade garments (including cotton and synthetic)
🍱 Processed food items
🧵 Cotton and textile products
🧴 Plastic, PVC-based items, dyes, etc.
These goods can no longer enter India through border checkpoints in Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and West Bengal’s Changrabandha and Fulbari customs posts.
However, items like fish, edible oils, and LPG remain exempt from this ban.
No Transit to Other Countries Either
The notification also bars these restricted goods from using India as a transit route to third countries like Nepal or Bhutan—a practice previously permitted under transshipment arrangements.
India had already suspended transshipment privileges for Bangladesh last month, citing adverse effects on domestic exporters. Despite that, Nepal and Bhutan were still allowed transit benefits, which continue under the current directive.
Bangladesh’s Retaliation
Soon after India’s initial restrictions in April, Bangladesh’s National Board of Revenue (NBR) imposed a ban on importing Indian yarn via land routes. However, they clarified that the ban applies only to land ports, and sea or other routes remain open.
Now, India seems to have reciprocated with a similar measure—restricting Bangladeshi exports specifically via land ports while keeping maritime trade untouched.
📉 Impact on Bilateral Trade
This trade clampdown is likely to:
✔ Benefit Indian exporters competing with Bangladeshi garments and food items
❌ Hurt small and medium Bangladeshi exporters
🔁 Intensify trade tensions between the two nations
India and Bangladesh have long shared a robust but sensitive trade relationship, especially in textile, food, and energy sectors. These tit-for-tat restrictions could potentially lead to long-term disruptions if not addressed diplomatically.