The Voice News: Bangladesh’s garment manufacturers have reached out to the interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, urging it to request India to reconsider its newly imposed trade restrictions.
The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) has formally appealed to the government to urge New Delhi to suspend its recent decision that prohibits the import of ready-made garments (RMG) from Bangladesh via land ports. BKMEA has warned that the move could result in severe economic losses for Bangladeshi exporters and is calling for at least a three-month suspension to mitigate the impact.
According to Prothom Alo, BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem submitted the letter to the Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday. It highlights that two emergency meetings have already been held—led by the Commerce Secretary and the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB)—where officials unanimously agreed that immediate high-level dialogue between the two countries is essential.
“Land ports play a critical role in bilateral trade between Bangladesh and India,” the letter noted. “The abrupt enforcement of restrictions has already left many consignments stranded at the border and disrupted production, causing direct financial damage to Bangladeshi businesses.”
The letter also emphasized that nearly 80% of Bangladesh’s exports to India go through Benapole Land Port, a majority of which are garments. Over the last 10 months, goods worth approximately Tk 12,000 crore have been transported to India via land routes.
BKMEA has urged the interim government to ensure that ongoing or in-process shipments are exempt from the ban and to request India to delay full enforcement for at least three months to allow businesses time to adapt.
On Saturday, India’s Ministry of Commerce issued a statement announcing that ready-made garments from Bangladesh would no longer be permitted entry through land ports. Instead, such goods must be shipped via sea ports in Mumbai or Kolkata. Other affected items include fruit-flavored carbonated beverages, processed food items (such as cakes, chips, and snacks), cotton, yarn, plastic products, and wooden furniture, which are now barred from entering through land ports in northeastern states like Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. West Bengal’s Changrabandha and Fulbari land ports are also covered under the restriction.
In light of these developments, Bangladesh’s garment industry has formally appealed for diplomatic intervention from the interim government.