India has moved to further restrict imports from Bangladesh through land ports, this time targeting jute and its related products.
In a fresh directive issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on Monday, items such as jute ropes, sacks, bags, and woven jute fabrics—whether processed or unprocessed—will be barred from entering India via any land route. Imports of such goods will now be allowed only through the Nhava Sheva seaport in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.
This step adds to a series of trade restrictions imposed by New Delhi in recent months. In April, India withdrew the “transshipment” facility that allowed Bangladesh to export goods to third countries using Indian ports. Soon after, in May, a ban was placed on the land entry of several Bangladeshi goods, including ready-made garments, fruits, processed foods, cotton items, plastic goods, and dyes. These restrictions applied to major border points in Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura, and parts of West Bengal.
In June, jute and hemp-based products were also barred from crossing into India via land. The latest order expands that ban, reinforcing India’s tighter control over cross-border trade with its eastern neighbour.
Trade experts suggest the move could significantly impact Bangladesh’s export flow, particularly to Indian states that rely heavily on land-based imports.
