India bans land entry for several Bangladesh goods including garments, fruits

In a major policy shift likely to impact bilateral trade, the Indian government has imposed strict port restrictions on imports from Bangladesh, particularly targeting goods like readymade garments, processed food, and plastic items. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued a notification codifying these restrictions into India’s import policy, effective immediately.

As per the new rules, readymade garment imports from Bangladesh can now only enter through Nhava Sheva and Kolkata seaports, cutting off all entry through land borders. This effectively shuts the door on the extensive use of Land Customs Stations (LCSs) and Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) across Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, and key locations like Changrabandha and Fulbari in West Bengal.

In addition to garments, the order restricts land border entry for imports of fruits, fruit-based drinks, snacks, confectionery, plastic products, dyes, wooden furniture, and cotton waste from Bangladesh. However, exemptions have been granted for essentials such as fish, LPG, edible oils, and crushed stones, which can still be brought in through these ports.

This development comes just weeks after India revoked a major transshipment facility extended to Dhaka in 2020. That facility had allowed Bangladesh to use Indian ports and airports to export goods to the Middle East and Europe, bypassing logistics hurdles. The April 9 withdrawal now limits such access to Nepal and Bhutan only.

Tensions between India and Bangladesh have escalated after controversial remarks by Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government. During a visit to China, Yunus claimed that India’s northeastern states are dependent on Bangladesh for ocean access and portrayed Bangladesh as the “only guardian” of the Indian Ocean in South Asia. He also invited China to use Bangladeshi trade routes, sparking concerns in New Delhi.

While the Indian government has not made an official diplomatic statement linking the trade restrictions to Yunus's comments, analysts believe the move is a calculated response to growing unease over Dhaka’s shifting geopolitical postures.