India Imposes Immediate Ban on Select Imports from Bangladesh via Land Routes

 New Delhi, — In a significant development with potential trade and diplomatic implications, the Government of India has imposed an immediate ban on the import of several categories of goods from neighboring Bangladesh through land routes. The Ministry of Commerce announced on Saturday that the restrictions apply to garments, processed food products, plastics, and wooden furniture.

However, the ministry clarified that shipments from Bangladesh will continue to be permitted through maritime channels, specifically via the ports of Nhava Sheva in Maharashtra and Kolkata, which lies close to the India–Bangladesh border.

The abrupt enforcement of the directive has already disrupted supply chains. On Monday, at least 36 trucks transporting ready-made garments from Bangladesh were reportedly stranded at the Benapole land port, Bangladesh’s largest customs point.

“We haven’t received any official notification from the Indian government,” said Mamun Kabir Tarafdar, Deputy Director (Traffic) of the Benapole Land Port Authority, in a statement to BDnews24, a leading Bangladeshi news outlet.

Escalating Trade Tensions

The move follows Bangladesh’s recent decision to restrict imports of Indian yarn via land routes, a measure that New Delhi responded to by revoking a facility that previously allowed Dhaka to use Indian land routes and ports for exports to third countries other than Nepal and Bhutan.

Trade relations between the two South Asian neighbors have been increasingly strained, particularly since the political transition in Dhaka that saw former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina removed from office in August 2024. The evolving dynamic has been further complicated by recent remarks made in Beijing by Bangladesh’s interim government chief adviser, Muhammad Yunus.

During an address in China, Yunus asserted that India’s seven northeastern states were effectively landlocked and described Bangladesh as “the only guardian of the ocean for all this region.” His remarks, perceived in New Delhi as diplomatically provocative, have reportedly contributed to rising bilateral tensions.

Yunus has also been positioning Bangladesh as a regional trade and logistics partner to China—India’s strategic rival—further fueling geopolitical sensitivities.

Diplomatic Signals and Economic Impact

At a meeting with Yunus on the sidelines of a regional summit in Bangkok in April, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored India’s interest in fostering a constructive and pragmatic partnership with Bangladesh. However, a subsequent statement emphasized the need to refrain from rhetoric that could undermine regional harmony.

Bangladesh exported goods worth approximately $1.57 billion to India during the 2023–24 fiscal year, with garments accounting for a substantial share—nearly $700 million annually. Notably, over 93% of these garment exports were routed through land ports, suggesting the new import restrictions may significantly disrupt bilateral trade flows.

As the situation continues to evolve, trade analysts are closely monitoring potential diplomatic outreach and reciprocal measures in the coming days. The latest developments underline the delicate balance of geopolitics and commerce that shapes India–Bangladesh relations.