Fri Apr 11 10:11:03 UTC 2025: ## India Halts Bangladesh Transshipment, Impacting Garment Exports
**Kolkata, April 11, 2025** – India’s revocation of a transshipment facility for Bangladeshi goods has brought cross-border trade to a standstill at the Petrapole-Benapole border. Since April 9th, no Bangladeshi trucks carrying goods destined for third countries have been allowed entry into India through Petrapole, West Bengal.
This decision reverses a 2020 agreement that allowed Bangladesh to use Indian land customs stations, ports, and airports to re-export goods. While the official reason for the revocation remains unstated, the move significantly impacts the Bangladeshi garment industry, which heavily relied on this route for exporting finished goods to Europe and the United States via air freight from Delhi and Mumbai.
Data reveals a substantial increase in transshipment cargo from Bangladesh through Petrapole between 2023-24 and 2024-25 fiscal years – a 46% jump in value, reaching ₹3,446.66 crore. However, this growth has been abruptly halted. While normal direct import-export activity continues, the loss of the transshipment facility is causing concern among Bangladeshi exporters, who are already facing challenges due to decreased global demand. Industry representatives express worries about the negative impact on the Bangladeshi garment sector.
Despite the halt in Bangladeshi transshipment cargo, nearly 400 Indian trucks continue to cross the border daily. The situation remains unchanged pending further instructions from the Indian government.
First Piper 