In blow to Bangladesh, govt shuts land route for garment imports; other items too on list

India has restricted imports from Bangladesh, together with a ban on readymade clothes by way of land routes, amidst rising tensions with the interim administration. This retaliatory transfer follows Bangladesh’s restrictions on Indian yarn and rice. While key items like fish and edible oil are spared, the ban impacts a good portion of Bangladesh’s garment exports to India.

NEW DELHI: In a “retaliatory move”, govt on Saturday restricted the import of a number of merchandise from Bangladesh, together with a ban on the entry of readymade clothes via the land route, amid rising unease with the interim administration led by chief adviser Muhammad Yunus.In a notification Saturday, the directorate basic of international commerce, nonetheless, allowed clothes, the mainstay of Bangladesh business, to be shipped by way of Nhava Sheva and Kolkata ports. The newest transfer will deal a blow to a big chunk of the $700 million garment exports to India, a big a part of which winds up in shops and on e-comm platforms.While fish, edible oil, LPG and crushed stones have been spared, import of a number of merchandise by way of land customs stations and built-in test posts in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Changrabandha and Fulbari in West Bengal shall be discontinued.Ban on Bangladesh items probably to profit NEGovt sources mentioned the notification by DGFT was retaliatory motion towards Bangladesh, which final month restricted the entry of Indian yarn, the important thing enter for making attire, and rice. India had earlier disallowed transit of Bangladesh clothes meant for export to third markets as these items cornered the area on freighters, elbowing out India-made merchandise.“Bangladesh cannot cherry-pick the terms of bilateral engagement solely to benefit itself or take India’s market access for granted. India is willing to discuss these issues but it is Bangladesh’s responsibility to create an environment that is free of rancour,” mentioned an official.Govt sources mentioned industrial development within the northeastern states had taken successful due to the imposition of unreasonably excessive and economically unviable transit costs by Dhaka, whilst Bangladesh itself loved free entry to the complete northeastern market. Access for manufactured merchandise, barring some farm items, can be a problem in Bangladesh.“Due to Bangladesh’s landport restrictions, the northeastern states suffer from lack of access to the Bangladesh market to sell locally manufactured goods, restricting market access to primary agricultural goods only,” mentioned a supply, including India’s resolution on Saturday will assist native manufacturing within the Northeast and India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.Earlier this week, Yunus had steered a complete financial plan for Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and the northeastern states. The notification comes days after an alleged “secret visit” by a Chinese group to Lalmonirhat to restore an air base.