India-Bangladesh trade partially resumes, expected to normalize soon

Trade between India and Bangladesh, which had been halted since August 5, has partially resumed through several land ports in West Bengal, officials announced on Wednesday.

Trade activities, predominantly involving perishable goods, have recommenced at land ports in Hili, Changrabandha, Mahadipur, Fulbari, and Gojadanga.

Officials expect exports from Petrapole, the largest land port in South Asia located in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, to begin on Thursday. This follows a meeting between land port authorities from both countries. Sajedur Rahman, general secretary of the Benapole C&F Staff Association, mentioned, "A meeting was held between the two land ports, and we expect trade to resume at 6 am tomorrow." Benapole is on the Bangladesh side of the Petrapole border.

The Director General of the Border Security Force reviewed the situation at Petrapole on Tuesday amid the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh. Joydev Sarkar, an official from the Carrying & Forwarding Agents Welfare Association, stated, "Some cargo movement has started via Ghojadanga for the Bangladeshi side. This is possible as the situation in Bhomra, the neighbouring counterpart to Ghojadanga, remains stable."

Key commodities such as black stone, chillies, turmeric, and wheat bran are exported to Bangladesh from the North 24 Parganas district land port. In Malda's Mahadipur, trucks are also being prepared for exporting cargo. However, trade has not yet resumed from the Petrapole border, according to an official from the C&F agent association at Bangladesh's Benapole port.

Ujjal Saha, secretary of the West Bengal Exporters Coordination Committee, reported that empty trucks that had previously gone to Bangladesh to unload exported goods are now returning. He added, "There have been reports of some exports of perishable cargo on Wednesday from land ports like Hili, Changrabandha, Mahadipur, Fulbari, and Gojadanga. Businessmen from both sides have requested their respective authorities to prevent losses." Saha is optimistic that the export situation will improve from Thursday.

India remains concerned about the law and order situation in Bangladesh, with reports of attacks on minorities leading to increased security at all land borders with the neighboring country.

Bangladesh is India's largest trade partner in South Asia, while India is the second-largest trade partner for Bangladesh in Asia. India's exports to Bangladesh decreased to USD 11 billion in 2023-24 from USD 12.21 billion in 2022-23, and imports also declined to USD 1.84 billion in the last fiscal year from USD 2 billion in 2022-23.

India's main exports to Bangladesh include vegetables, coffee, tea, spices, sugar, confectionery, refined petroleum oil, chemicals, cotton, iron and steel, and vehicles. In contrast, Bangladesh's exports to India are primarily concentrated in textiles and garments, which make up 56% of their shipments.