Indian ban leaves 36 trucks loaded with apparel stranded at Benapole Port
DHAKA : A fresh restriction by India on importing readymade garments via land ports has stalled cross-border consignments since Sunday morning, leaving 36 Bangladeshi trucks loaded with export-bound apparel stranded at Benapole land port.
The situation has raised concerns among exporters about the fate of the shipment, with some firms now trying to redirect their goods toward Chittagong port, reports Bangla Tribune.
The Indian authorities imposed the restriction on garment imports via land routes late on Saturday night.
Exporters said the Indian government has banned nearly seven categories of products—including processed food and apparel—from entering through land ports.
The move is expected to cause losses to Bangladesh’s apparel factories, they added.
Compared to Benapole, shipping via Chittagong port will double transportation costs and delay deliveries, which may result in order cancellations, they said.
This latest restriction comes just a month after Bangladesh imposed a ban on importing Indian yarns through land routes.
India’s Ministry of Commerce said the new restriction takes immediate effect.
According to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), Bangladesh exported products worth Tk17,659 crore to India in the 2022–23 fiscal year and Tk17,425 crore in 2023–24.
In the first half of the current fiscal year, the export value stood at Tk11,577 crore.
India remains one of the key markets for Bangladesh’s garments, with annual exports hovering around $700 million—93% of which are sent via land ports, according to the NBR.
Business leaders say the new ban will deliver a major blow to this sector.
On Saturday night, India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade issued a circular prohibiting the import of seven types of products—including processed food and garments—via land ports.
As per the notice, such goods can now only be imported through Kolkata by sea.
Kartik Chakraborty, general secretary of the Petrapole Clearing and Forwarding Agents Staff Welfare Association, told Bangla Tribune: “India has imposed restrictions on several Bangladeshi goods. Discussions are ongoing with customs officials about allowing goods with existing LCs or TTs, but no final decision has been made.”
Two exporters based in Benapole said the ban has effectively halted garment exports to India via land routes.
“We usually send shipments to Kolkata through Benapole and Bhomra ports, and now that is no longer possible. Waterway transportation is not a viable option due to time and cost,” one of them said.
According to them, transporting a single truck of apparel to Kolkata via Benapole costs roughly Tk6 lakh and delivery is completed within three days.
In contrast, they said, sending the same consignment by sea from Chittagong would cost nearly Tk12 lakh and take 20 to 25 days—likely prompting buyers to cancel orders.
Abdul Latif, customs affairs secretary of the Benapole C&F Agents Association, said: “The land route was much cheaper for exporting these goods. With the new restriction, many exporters will suffer losses since the costs of air and sea shipment are considerably higher.”
Imdadul Haque Lota, general secretary of the association, said: “Every year, Bangladesh exports goods worth Tk10,000–Tk18,000 crore to India. Due to the convenience of transport links, most importers prefer using Benapole. Major exports along this route include food products, jute and jute goods, garments, chemicals, tissue paper, melamine, and fish.”
Mamun Kabir Tarafdar, deputy director (traffic) of the Benapole Land Port Authority, said: “We have not received any official letter yet, but we saw the report in newspapers. Until Saturday, all goods were being exported through the land port. However, since Sunday morning, no processed food or apparel products have been allowed through, even though other items are still crossing. As far as we have learned, about 30–35 trucks are currently stuck here.”
