Ban imposed on B’deshi goods import : India has imposed port restrictions on the import of certain goods, including ready-made garments, processed food, and others, from Bangladesh via land ports. This means that these goods can no longer be imported through Land Customs Stations (LCSs) or Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram, as well as Changrabandha and Fulbari LCSs in West Bengal.
In a decisive move reflecting growing trade and political concerns, the Government of India has imposed immediate restrictions on the import of certain goods from Bangladesh through Land Customs Stations (LCSs) and Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) located in Tripura and several other northeastern states. This latest directive, issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, aims to regulate the flow of specific Bangladeshi products such as readymade garments and processed food items, amid concerns over unfair trade practices and sovereignty issues.
Direct or indirect Import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect. pic.twitter.com/KBamc3DhdW
— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2025
#Bangladesh will no longer be allowed to use Indian land ports to export ready-made garments to #India. A notification from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade issued in this regard on Saturday will come into immediate effect, officials said. @janusmyth reports.… pic.twitter.com/oDHMR5KwqW
— The Hindu (@the_hindu) May 17, 2025
The notification, dated May 17, 2025 (Notification No. 07/2025-26), explicitly prohibits the import of all varieties of readymade garments from Bangladesh via any land port along the India-Bangladesh border. Instead, imports of these goods will now be restricted to seaports at Nhava Sheva (Mumbai) and Kolkata. This move primarily targets key border points in Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, as well as two LCSs in West Bengal—Changrabandha and Fulbari. Additionally, imports of fruit and fruit-flavoured drinks, carbonated beverages, processed food products, cotton and cotton yarn waste, and certain plastic and PVC finished goods (excluding industrial pigments, dyes, plasticisers, and granules) have also been banned from entering through these land routes. Wooden furniture imports from Bangladesh are similarly barred under the new regulations.
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However, the restrictions explicitly exclude essential commodities such as fish, LPG, edible oils, and crushed stone, which will continue to be allowed entry through the land ports. Moreover, goods originating in Bangladesh but transiting through India en route to Nepal and Bhutan remain exempt from these curbs, reflecting India’s commitment to regional trade facilitation.
Another action by Indian Govt. against #Yunus regime‼️
🔴India has banned importing #Bangladeshi Garments products,
cotton or plastic made goods, fruits, carbonated drinks, processed food items and wooden furnitures through all of it’s land ports from today.@Iyervval @ANI pic.twitter.com/fDLlkbRZOh
— BANGLADESH CRISIS 🇧🇩 (@BDcrisis) May 17, 2025
Context and Background
This move comes in the aftermath of India’s withdrawal of the transshipment facility previously granted to Bangladesh on April 9, 2025. The transshipment facility, initially introduced in June 2020, had permitted Bangladesh to use Indian ports and airports—including the Delhi airport—to export goods to the Middle East, Europe, and other regions, except Nepal and Bhutan. This arrangement was considered a significant boost for Bangladesh’s trade, providing easier access to global markets.vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
The decision to revoke this facility was largely triggered by controversial remarks made by Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government, during a business event in China. Yunus claimed that India’s seven northeastern states, sharing a nearly 1,600 km border with Bangladesh, are effectively landlocked without access to the sea except through Bangladesh. He also positioned Bangladesh as the “only guardian” of the Indian Ocean in the region and invited China to leverage Bangladesh as a transit corridor for global trade. These statements were perceived in New Delhi as an affront to India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, prompting sharp responses from Indian political leaders across party lines.
Trade and Political Implications
The imposition of port restrictions and withdrawal of the transshipment facility are seen as part of a broader recalibration in India-Bangladesh relations, which have faced strains over issues including minority rights in Bangladesh and economic competition, particularly in the textile sector. Bangladesh is a significant competitor to India in readymade garments, which constitutes a major part of bilateral trade.
In the fiscal year 2023-24, trade between the two countries amounted to approximately USD 12.9 billion, underscoring the importance of their economic relationship. However, Indian exporters, especially from the apparel industry, had long raised concerns about the preferential treatment Bangladesh enjoyed under the transshipment regime, arguing that it gave Bangladeshi products an unfair advantage in global markets.
With the new restrictions, Indian authorities aim to curb the influx of certain Bangladeshi goods through sensitive border points, promote domestic manufacturing, and assert tighter control over trade flows. While these measures are expected to affect cross-border trade dynamics, especially in the northeastern states, they also signal India’s intent to safeguard its economic and geopolitical interests in the region.
Next Steps and Stakeholder Reactions
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through the DGFT, has incorporated these changes by introducing new provisions in India’s import policy, effective immediately. The government has emphasized that these actions are regulatory measures to ensure adherence to prescribed trade protocols and to protect domestic industries.
Industry stakeholders in the northeast and West Bengal are now assessing the impact of these curbs on local economies, many of which rely on cross-border trade. Consumer groups have also expressed concerns about potential price fluctuations and availability of certain goods.
Meanwhile, diplomatic channels are reportedly active in addressing the fallout, as both India and Bangladesh seek to manage tensions without jeopardizing their long-standing cultural and economic ties.
