India has imposed an immediate ban on the import of several categories of jute and bast fibre products from Bangladesh through all land border crossings, allowing entry only through the Nhava Sheva (Jawaharlal Nehru) Seaport in Maharashtra.
The restricted items include bleached and unbleached woven jute fabrics, twine, cordage, cables, sacks, and bags made of jute or other bast fibres, according to a notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
“Imports from Bangladesh shall not be permitted through any land port along the India-Bangladesh border,” the DGFT stated in the notification, signed by Director General Ajay Bhadoo. “However, such goods may be imported exclusively through the Nhava Sheva Seaport.”
The move expands earlier restrictions that were introduced over the past six months, during which India progressively limited the entry of various Bangladeshi goods, such as readymade garments, processed foods, flax tow, jute yarn, and man-made fibre fabrics, via land routes, redirecting them to Nhava Sheva.
On May 17, India had already imposed port-specific conditions on certain Bangladeshi exports, and on April 9, it withdrew transhipment privileges that previously allowed Bangladeshi garment exporters to ship goods to international markets, including the Middle East and Europe, via Indian ports, with exceptions for Nepal and Bhutan.
The latest restrictions come amid ongoing geopolitical tensions following the student-led uprising in Bangladesh and the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5 of the previous year. Since then, India has implemented a series of trade measures affecting bilateral commerce.
Bangladeshi business leaders have criticized the restrictions, describing them as non-tariff barriers that could strain economic relations between the two neighbouring countries.
They warn that rerouting shipments through a single seaport increases logistics costs, delays delivery times, and undermines the competitiveness of Bangladeshi exporters.
India’s regulatory actions reflect a broader effort to monitor and control the flow of certain imported goods, though officials have not publicly linked the measures directly to political developments in Bangladesh. The government continues to emphasise compliance, customs oversight, and trade regulation as key factors behind the policy shifts.
As the restrictions take full effect, industry stakeholders on both sides of the border are calling for dialogue to address trade imbalances and prevent further disruption to regional supply chains.