Responding to India’s decision to restrict imports of Bangladeshi goods, particularly garments, the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) on Friday made an urgent appeal to the interim government, headed by Muhammad Yunus, to initiate diplomatic talks with New Delhi and seek a temporary suspension of the restrictions.
Tensions have escalated in Bangladesh’s export sector after India abruptly suspended the entry of Bangladeshi ready-made garments via land ports, a move threatening to inflict significant losses on the country’s garment industry.
BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem sent an official letter to Bangladesh’s Commerce Ministry on Wednesday, requesting that India reconsider the decision for at least three months. The appeal also calls for an immediate secretary-level dialogue between the two countries to resolve the issue and safeguard bilateral trade.
The BKMEA has warned that the sudden restrictions have already caused major disruptions at border points. According to Hatem, numerous consignments are currently stuck, halting production lines and triggering financial losses for exporters. He stressed that Benapole, the largest land port between India and Bangladesh, handles around 80 per cent of garment exports to India.
In the past ten months alone, garments worth nearly 12,000 crore Bangladeshi taka have been exported to India via land routes, most through Benapole. With the new restrictions, exporters fear widespread job losses, production bottlenecks, and possible contract cancellations from Indian buyers.
“The role of land ports in India-Bangladesh trade is crucial. This sudden move has paralysed logistics and production schedules. We urge the interim government to act quickly and secure at least a temporary exemption for ongoing shipments,” the BKMEA’s letter said.
Also read: India limits import of Bangladeshi goods
A significant number of garment workers have lost their jobs, and factories have shut down. Recent reports indicate that nearly 400,000 garment workers have been laid off. Additionally, about 300 out of 400 garment and industrial factories in Gazipur, Ashulia, Savar, and other areas have closed in recent months. Workers and industry stakeholders claim the unstable political and economic situation, along with financial crises faced by factory owners, have contributed to this situation.
Last week, the Indian Ministry of Commerce announced that ready-made garments from Bangladesh may no longer enter India via land routes. Instead, these products must be routed exclusively through Mumbai or Kolkata seaports. The ban also covers several other Bangladeshi goods, including fruits and fruit-flavoured beverages, processed foods such as cakes, chips, and snacks, cotton and yarn, plastic items, and wooden furniture.
These products are now barred from entry through land ports in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram, as well as Petrapole, Changrabandha, and Phulbari in West Bengal.
While no official reason was publicly stated, analysts suggest the move may be linked to broader geopolitical and security considerations, as India has grown increasingly cautious about cross-border trade in sensitive northeastern regions.
The BKMEA is urging the interim government to intervene directly with Indian authorities. They propose that Dhaka formally request an exemption for products already en route or in processing and initiate immediate talks to prevent long-term damage to the sector.
“Without swift diplomatic action, the industry will suffer irreparably,” warned Hatem. He emphasised that the knitwear and garments sector is one of Bangladesh’s largest sources of export earnings and employment, and any prolonged disruption in trade with India could have serious economic consequences.
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