Bangladesh’s apparel sector leaders have called on the interim government to engage in diplomatic discussions with India, seeking exemption for existing work orders from a recent export ban imposed by New Delhi through its land ports.

In a letter submitted to the commerce ministry on Wednesday, Mohammad Hatem, President of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), requested urgent government intervention.

He appealed not only for exemption of all ongoing export commitments but also for a deferment of the ban’s implementation by at least three months to allow the industry to adjust.

India imposed the restrictions on May 17, banning the export of several goods, including readymade garments, from Bangladesh via its land ports.

The move came just a month after Bangladesh introduced limitations on yarn imports through the same channels.

‘Land ports play a pivotal role in facilitating bilateral trade between Bangladesh and India. These ports not only reduce transportation time but also significantly lower costs compared to seaports,’ Hatem said in the letter.

He mentioned that about 80 per cent of exports through land ports are conducted via the Benapole Land Port.

Citing data, BKMEA letter said that goods worth Tk 128.11 billion were exported over the past ten months, while approximately Tk 80 billion in ready-made garments were shipped during the last eight months.

‘The current ban poses severe risks to trade and economic relations. Many goods are now stranded at land ports, and additional consignments are under production,’ Hatem said, adding that export letters of credit have been opened and committed, and delays will lead to cancellations, financial losses, and long-term reputational damage.

The BKMEA leader urged the government to intervene and initiate formal communication with the Indian government, requesting a minimum notice period of three months and exemption of ongoing export consignments from the scope of the ban.

Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, Executive President of BKMEA, said they currently have around $120 million in ongoing work orders.

He added that business-to-business communication is also taking place in this regard.

The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and the Ministry of Commerce convened two separate meetings last week to assess the implications and determine an appropriate course of action.

Ehsan said that stakeholders at the meetings strongly recommended government-level engagement with the Indian counterpart to seek a deferment of the ban for at least three months and to keep ongoing export orders outside the scope of the restriction.

According to data from the EPB and the central bank, Bangladesh exported goods worth $1.56 billion in the last fiscal year, while imports from India stood at $9.0 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $7.43 billion.