Bangladesh’s trade with India has failed to recover a year after the country’s political transition, as new restrictions continue to choke cargo flows through the Benapole land port, the largest gateway on the border. Import volumes through the port fell by 75,729 tons in FY 2024–25. Exports dropped by another 75,232 tons. Rail shipments slid by 29,000 tons.

Traders warn that the slowdown will widen the country’s trade and revenue gap unless Dhaka moves quickly to roll back restrictions. Port officials say any decisions now rest with the government and the next round of bilateral trade talks.

Customs records show India exported roughly 2.03 million tons of goods through Benapole in FY 2024-25. The total stood at 2.11 million tons in the year prior. Imports have swung sharply over the past five years, ranging from 1.44 million tons to 2.64 million tons.

The port recorded 1.44 million tons of imports from India in FY 2022-23. Previous records show 2.11 million tons imported in FY 2021-22, 2.64 million tons in FY 2020-21, 2.03 million tons in FY 2019-20, and 2.01 million tons imported in FY 2018-19.

Officials note that cargo flows began to slip following the political upheaval of August 5, 2025. Benapole handled 500 to 600 Indian trucks a day before the transition. Bangladesh shipped out 250 to 300 trucks to India during the same period. The turbulence strained ties, and New Delhi has since imposed three separate restrictions on goods entering India from Bangladesh.

India blocked the use of its airports for third-country apparel exports on April 8. It followed with a May 17 order suspending imports of Bangladeshi apparel, yarn, plastics, wood products, fruits, and fruit-based items at land ports. Dhaka issued its own bans on April 15 to shield domestic industries, halting imports of yarn, newsprint, cigarette paper, duplex board, kraft paper, potatoes, powdered milk, tobacco, radio and TV parts, bicycles, formica sheets, ceramic and sanitary ware, stainless steel ware, marble and tiles, and mixed fabrics.

Traders fear a sharp year-end shortfall if the standoff continues. “Political transitions are normal. But we expect India to keep its trade policy steady,” said Mostafizzoha Selim, office secretary of the Benapole Customs C&F Agents Association.

Repeated restrictions on both sides have rattled business confidence, said Ziaur Rahman, general secretary of the Benapole Import-Export Association. “Indian government’s back-to-back bans have widened the trade gap. Bangladeshi government has imposed restrictions too. Imports of many essential goods have dropped as a result,” he said.

Poor infrastructure has added another brake. “Traders want to move more cargo through the land ports, but the facilities can’t handle it,” said Matiar Rahman, chairman of the India-Bangladesh Land Port Import-Export Committee. He said the long-delayed India-Bangladesh-Nepal-Bhutan trade corridor has stalled for the same reason and urged the interim government to upgrade high-demand border ports.

Rail shipments have also thinned with the last major consignment arriving on November 23, when ACI Motors imported 100 tractors, said Benapole railway station master Aynal Hasan. India’s post-August 2024 restrictions have suspended passenger service on the Dhaka–Benapole–Kolkata route.

Trade will remain slow until the restrictions ease, said Benapole Port Director Shamim Hossain. “We are clearing whatever cargo arrives as fast as possible. But delays build up when bilateral meetings stop. The two governments can restart talks anytime if they choose,” he said.