Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain stated on Wednesday that Bangladesh is actively engaging with India regarding recent concerns over cross-border "push-ins" and port-related restrictions on certain imports from Bangladesh, including readymade garments (RMG) and processed food products.
In response to a query about these restrictions, Adviser Hossain noted that Commerce Adviser of Bangladesh's interim government is currently examining the matter.
India, meanwhile, clarified that the port restrictions do not apply to Bangladeshi goods transiting through India en route to Nepal or Bhutan.
Currently, the import of all types of RMG from Bangladesh is restricted at Indian land ports. These items are only permitted through the seaports of Nhava Sheva and Kolkata.
Addressing the issue of alleged push-ins, Adviser Hossain said that communication with New Delhi is ongoing and Dhaka is working to ensure that any actions remain within agreed frameworks.
“They (India) have shared their position with us to some extent and we have presented ours. We’re trying to convey that such actions are not acceptable,” he said, referencing an existing Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) between two countries.
He also mentioned that India has provided Bangladesh with a list related to the push-in cases, which is now under review by Bangladesh’s Home Ministry.
Bangladesh’s stance, the Adviser emphasized, is to assess each case individually and accept only those proven to be Bangladeshi nationals.
SH
