Alright, so here’s the deal – India and Bangladesh are having some major beef in the trade department. Like, we’re talking about India banning entry for a bunch of Bangladesh goods through land ports. It all started when India decided to pull the plug on a transshipment facility they had given to Bangladesh back in 2020. This facility allowed Bangladesh to send exports to the Middle East and Europe through Indian ports and even the Delhi airport. But hey, exemptions have been made for fish, LPG, edible oils, and crushed stone. So, at least those goods can still make their way in.
Now, fast forward to May 17, and bam! India drops a bombshell by imposing some serious port restrictions on imports from Bangladesh. We’re talking about readymade garments and processed food being caught in the crossfire. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) is the one dropping the hammer here. And get this, it all comes right after India said goodbye to that transshipment facility for Dhaka. And guess what? This decision came right around the time when things were getting a bit heated between the two countries due to some not-so-nice comments from a Bangladeshi big shot in China.
So, according to the DGFT, readymade garments from Bangladesh can only come in through two ports now — Nhava Sheva and Kolkata seaports. Everything else on the restricted list includes fruits, fruit-flavoured and carbonated drinks, processed foods like chips and snacks, cotton waste, plastic goods, dyes, and wooden furniture. And here’s the kicker – no land port entries allowed for these goods in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, and some specific spots in West Bengal. But hey, fish, LPG, edible oils, and crushed stone? They get a free pass to keep coming in through these ports. Changes are effective immediately, folks.
This whole mess started when India took back that transshipment facility that was making Bangladesh’s trade life a whole lot easier. And now, things are just getting more complicated. Tensions are high, and both countries are playing hardball. Bangladesh even stopped importing yarn from India through land ports, and they’re not letting Indian exports flow smoothly either. It’s like a game of trade tug-of-war, and no one seems to be backing down. With billions of dollars at stake in the textile industry alone, it’s no wonder both sides are fighting tooth and nail. Who will come out on top? Only time will tell.