NEW DELHI: In a “retaliatory move”, govt on Saturday restricted the import of several products from Bangladesh, including a ban on the entry of readymade garments through the land route, amid growing unease with the interim administration led by chief adviser Muhammad Yunus.
In a notification Saturday, the directorate general of foreign trade, however, allowed garments, the mainstay of Bangladesh industry, to be shipped via Nhava Sheva and Kolkata ports. The latest move will deal a blow to a significant chunk of the $700 million garment exports to India, a large part of which lands up in stores and on e-comm platforms.
While fish, edible oil, LPG and crushed stones have been spared, import of several products via land customs stations and integrated check posts in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Changrabandha and Fulbari in West Bengal will be discontinued.
Ban on Bangladesh goods likely to benefit NE
Govt sources said the notification by DGFT was retaliatory action against Bangladesh, which last month restricted the entry of Indian yarn, the key input for making apparel, and rice. India had earlier disallowed transit of Bangladesh garments meant for export to third markets as these goods cornered the space on freighters, elbowing out India-made products.
“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,” said an official.
Govt sources said industrial growth in the northeastern states had taken a hit because of the imposition of unreasonably high and economically unviable transit charges by Dhaka, even as Bangladesh itself enjoyed free access to the entire northeastern market. Access for manufactured products, barring some farm goods, is also an issue 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,” said a source, adding India’s decision on Saturday will support local manufacturing in the Northeast and India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative .
Earlier this week, Yunus had suggested a comprehensive economic plan for Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and the northeastern states. The notification comes days after an alleged “secret visit” by a Chinese team to Lalmonirhat to restore an air base.
In a notification Saturday, the directorate general of foreign trade, however, allowed garments, the mainstay of Bangladesh industry, to be shipped via Nhava Sheva and Kolkata ports. The latest move will deal a blow to a significant chunk of the $700 million garment exports to India, a large part of which lands up in stores and on e-comm platforms.
While fish, edible oil, LPG and crushed stones have been spared, import of several products via land customs stations and integrated check posts in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Changrabandha and Fulbari in West Bengal will be discontinued.
Ban on Bangladesh goods likely to benefit NE
Govt sources said the notification by DGFT was retaliatory action against Bangladesh, which last month restricted the entry of Indian yarn, the key input for making apparel, and rice. India had earlier disallowed transit of Bangladesh garments meant for export to third markets as these goods cornered the space on freighters, elbowing out India-made products.
“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,” said an official.
Govt sources said industrial growth in the northeastern states had taken a hit because of the imposition of unreasonably high and economically unviable transit charges by Dhaka, even as Bangladesh itself enjoyed free access to the entire northeastern market. Access for manufactured products, barring some farm goods, is also an issue 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,” said a source, adding India’s decision on Saturday will support local manufacturing in the Northeast and India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative .
Earlier this week, Yunus had suggested a comprehensive economic plan for Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and the northeastern states. The notification comes days after an alleged “secret visit” by a Chinese team to Lalmonirhat to restore an air base.
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