Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) has urgently appealed to the government for diplomatic intervention to suspend India’s recent ban on imports of certain Bangladeshi goods via land ports. In a letter to Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman on 21st May, BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem requested at least a three-month suspension of the restriction to prevent severe disruptions to exports and factory operations. He also urged the government to negotiate exemptions for shipments already in the export pipeline.
India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade, on 17th May, issued a ban on six categories of imports, including all ready-made garments (RMG), via land ports from Bangladesh. However, shipments can still be made through Indian sea ports such as Kolkata and Nhava Sheva. The sudden decision has caused major upheaval in Bangladesh’s export logistics, with consignments being returned and factories left uncertain about pricing and delivery timelines based on land routes.
BKMEA stressed that 80% of Bangladesh’s exports to India, especially RMG products, are routed through land ports. Between July 2023 and April 2024, goods worth Tk 12,811 crore were exported through Benapole land port alone, of which Tk 8,000 crore was RMG. Hatem warned that the restriction could lead to the cancellation of letters of credit (LCs), halted production, financial losses, and reputational damage for Bangladeshi exporters.
Emergency meetings were held by the Export Promotion Bureau and the commerce ministry following the ban, with stakeholders unanimously recommending diplomatic engagement with India. Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman confirmed that Bangladesh would not take retaliatory action and has already approached the India-Bangladesh Joint Secretary-level forum to resolve the issue. BKMEA’s call highlights the urgency of maintaining uninterrupted trade through land ports, which remain vital to Bangladesh’s export economy and bilateral trade with India.
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