India has banned the import of nine types of goods, including jute, from Bangladesh through land ports. The Indian Directorate General of Foreign Trade announced this ban in a notification on Friday.
According to the notification, these Bangladeshi products can still enter India via sea routes through Mumbai’s Nava Sheva port. The Bangladeshi products banned from import through land ports include raw jute, jute rolls, jute yarn, and certain types of jute fabrics.
Statistics show that nine types of jute products are exported from Bangladesh to India. In the fiscal year 2023–24, such products worth 149.4 million US dollars were exported to India. Of this, products worth 147.7 million dollars were exported through land ports. In effect, 99 percent of jute products are exported via land ports, which will now be halted under India’s ban. However, Bangladeshi products destined for Nepal and Bhutan can still use India’s land ports for transit. In that case, Bangladesh will have to look for new buyers.
After the change in Bangladesh’s political landscape, relations with India have somewhat cooled. Commercial ties are largely at a standstill. Over the past three months, India has imposed import restrictions on Bangladeshi goods on three separate occasions.
Earlier, on May 17, the Indian Directorate General of Foreign Trade imposed restrictions on the import of readymade garments, processed foods, plastics, wooden furniture, yarn and yarn by-products, fruit and fruit-flavored drinks, soft drinks, etc., through land ports from Bangladesh. Before that, on April 9, India withdrew facilities for Bangladesh to export products to other countries via Kolkata airport. Despite these bans, Bangladesh has not taken any retaliatory measures.
