Benapole, 18 May (V7N) – Thirty-six Bangladeshi trucks carrying ready-made garment (RMG) items are currently stranded at the Benapole land port due to new import restrictions imposed by India.

Kartik Chakraborty, Secretary of the Petrapole Clearing Agent Staff Welfare Association, stated that India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has placed restrictions on the import of certain goods, including ready-made garments, through its land ports.

Specifically, certain RMG items that were previously permitted to enter via land ports must now be routed through Kolkata Sea Port or Mumbai’s Nhava Sheva Port, according to Chakraborty.

He added that discussions are underway with Indian Customs regarding goods with existing Letters of Credit (LCs) or Telegraphic Transfers (TTs) in place, to explore the possibility of clearance.

Mohsin Milon, President of the Benapole Importers and Exporters Association, confirmed that 36 trucks carrying RMG goods are currently held up at Benapole, awaiting entry clearance due to these restrictions implemented by the Indian government.

Exporters have expressed concerns about potential financial losses resulting from this sudden change in import regulations.

Mamun Kabir Tarafder, Deputy Director of Benapole Land Port, stated that they have already informed the relevant higher authorities about the situation.

India imposed these port restrictions on the import of specific goods, including ready-made garments (RMG) and processed food items, from Bangladesh with immediate effect on Saturday. The DGFT issued the official notification regarding these restrictions.

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