India restricts Bangladesh garment, food imports through land ports

India has restricted the import of readymade garments, fruits and processed food from Bangladesh through its land ports.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade under India’s Ministry of Commerce issued a circular on 17 May imposing the restriction, which stipulates that garments from Bangladesh may now only enter India through Kolkata and Nhava Sheva (Mumbai) seaports.

"All readymade garment imports from Bangladesh shall not be allowed from any land port, however, it is only through Nhava Sheva and Kolkata seaports," reads the circular.

The move signals a significant shift in Indian trade policy, according to a report of India's WION news channel.

The shift comes after the Bangladesh government had imposed port restrictions on the export of Indian yarn via land ports in March this year, allowing Indian yarn exports only via seaports.

Other items included in the restriction are fruit, fruit-flavoured and carbonated beverages, processed food products, cotton and cotton yarn waste, finished plastic and PVC goods, and wooden furniture.

Imports of these goods have also been barred from entering India via any land customs station or Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram to prevent rerouting by Bangladesh.