The North Bengal Exporters Association has welcomed the central government’s recent decision to impose port restrictions on the import of certain goods, including readymade garments and processed food items from Bangladesh.
Brij Kishore Prasad, Secretary of the Association, said, “We welcome the decision of the Government of India. It is in the interest of our country. It will impact the economy of Bangladesh. We heartily welcome it, and this is good for us as well as for the countrymen. We are with the country.”
Earlier, Foreign Affairs Expert Robinder Sachdev described the restrictions as a “strict response” to concerning developments in India’s eastern neighbour amid ongoing regional tensions. Speaking to media on Sunday, Sachdev said the move sends a clear message of vigilance against Bangladesh’s promotion of ‘Greater Bangla’ and ‘Sultanate Bangla’ narratives, which claim territories including Bihar, Jharkhand, and Northeast India.
On Saturday, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry imposed immediate land port restrictions on several categories of goods from Bangladesh, following a directive from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
The directive limits the import of products such as readymade garments and processed foods to specific seaports only. An official press release from the Ministry stated that these items can now only enter through Nhava Sheva and Kolkata seaports, with land port imports being prohibited.
This move is widely seen as a response to Bangladesh’s recent restrictions on Indian yarn, rice, and other exports, as well as its imposition of a transit fee on Indian cargo — marking a shift away from previously cooperative trade relations.
According to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), India’s restrictions on imports from Bangladesh via land ports will impact goods worth USD 770 million, which represents nearly 42% of total bilateral imports.