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States » EastPosted at: May 19 2025 10:15PM


Curbs on import of goods from Bangladesh to disrupt trade flows in NE states

Shillong, May 19 (UNI) The recent curbs on the import of consumer goods from Bangladesh through Land Customs Stations are expected to disrupt trade flows across the North Eastern States.
In a notification on May 17, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, under the Ministry of Commerce, has barred import of ready-made garments (RMG), plastics, wooden furniture, carbonated drinks, processed food items, fruit-flavoured drinks, cotton and cotton yarn waste through land customs stations and integrated check posts in Meghalaya, Assam, Mizoram and Tripura and Phulbari and Changrabandha in West Bengal and would only be imported through Nhava Sheva and Kolkata seaports.
A Customs official at the Shillong customs (p) Commissionerate said they are evaluating the extent of the impact.
“Restricting imports of consumer goods, especially ready-made garments from Bangladesh, through only two seaports is a reciprocal measure to Bangladesh after Dhaka banned yarn and rice imports from India through the same land routes last month,” the official told UNI on condition of anonymity.
He said the reciprocal measure will “restore equal market access for both countries”.
Moreover, these restrictions would affect Bangladesh textile industry.
Bangladesh is currently the world’s second-largest exporter of garments, behind only China, and the value of its RMG exports to India is estimated at around USD 700 million, and 93 per cent of the RMG shipments enter India through land ports.
“India’s trade restrictions would have significant long-term consequences for Bangladesh textile industry. Bangladesh should not have stopped the import of Indian yarn and rice through dry ports. We stand by our government decision,” H Khonglah, an Indian importer, said.
Over 90 percent of these imports are through land customs stations and mostly through Petrapole land trading point in West Bengal.
Economics experts attribute the textile and clothing industry as one of the main sources of Bangladesh’s recent economic growth and development.
Last month, the Narendra Modi-led government cancelled a 2020 transshipment deal that allowed Bangladesh to export cargo to third countries through Indian land routes.
A few days later, the military-backed interim government in Bangladesh headed by Muhammad Yunus also stopped Indian yarn exports through Benapole, Bhomra, Sonamasjid, Banglabandha and Burimari land ports and Indian rice exports via Hili and Benapole of West Bengal.
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