How will closing land ports affect the region?

• On May 17, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade shut down all land ports with Bangladesh for export of apparel.

• The order also shut down northeastern land ports to restrict the export of specific items from Bangladesh.

• The move is interpreted as a fallout of the downturn in relations between New Delhi and Dhaka.

• The order also banned export of fruit, fruit flavoured drinks, processed food items, cotton and cotton yarn waste, plastic and PVC finished goods except pigments, dyes, plasticisers, and granules, and wooden furniture from Bangladesh through land ports of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura.

• The order clarified that import of fish, LPG, edible oil, and crushed stone from Bangladesh will remain unaffected.

• India claimed the order was aimed at ensuring reciprocity in trade with Bangladesh.

• Bangladesh has not issued any official response so far, but officials have expressed disappointment over the way this step was initiated by the Indian side.

• Bangladesh officials said these moves were enforced to control corruption on their side.

• A preliminary review is on the impact that the Indian order will have on the economic prospects of Bangladesh.

• India claims that the order will not affect Bangladesh’s trade with Nepal and Bhutan.

• The closure of land ports is also a message to the interim government of Bangladesh, which has warmed towards Pakistan, accused of exporting cross-border terrorism to J&K.