India limits imports from Bangladesh at key land ports, citing need for trade parity after controversial comments.
India has formally restricted the import of goods from Bangladesh through several northeastern land ports. The order, notified on May 17 and published in the Gazette of India, now allows imports only through Kolkata or Nhava Sheva seaports.
The move comes weeks after Bangladesh’s interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus made controversial remarks in China, referring to India’s northeast as “landlocked with no ocean access.” The statement caused diplomatic tension, prompting India to respond with tighter trade controls.
Previously, over 93% of Bangladesh’s exports to India — including ready-made garments, plastics, furniture, juices, bakery items, and processed foods — entered via land routes in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, and West Bengal. The shift is expected to raise costs significantly for Bangladeshi exporters, particularly the garment sector, which earns nearly $740 million annually from India.
While essential goods like LPG, edible oil, and fish remain exempt, Indian authorities clarified the step is a reciprocal action. Sources indicated that India seeks balanced trade terms after Bangladesh limited access for Indian goods and transit through its territory.
Source: The Print
