Bangladesh, India Discuss Reopening Border Haats, Easing Trade Barriers

DHAKA, August 24, 2026: Bangladesh and India have discussed reopening closed border haats, making land ports fully operational and lifting restrictions on yarn imports through land routes to further strengthen bilateral trade and economic ties.

The issues were discussed during a meeting between Bangladesh Trade Minister Khondokar Abdul Muktadir and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi at the Secretariat on Monday.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the Trade Minister said bilateral trade between Bangladesh and India currently stands at around $13 billion. However, trade activities have slowed somewhat over the past one and a half years due to several obstacles.

The meeting focused on identifying those barriers and exploring ways to make bilateral trade smoother, more effective and mutually beneficial.

The minister said India is Bangladesh's second-largest trading partner after China, underscoring the importance of the longstanding economic relationship between the two countries.

He said priority was given to making land ports fully operational, reopening closed border haats and removing existing restrictions on yarn imports through land routes.

The minister also said proposals were discussed to establish a joint task force to strengthen cooperation between business communities of the two countries and improve digital infrastructure. Such initiatives, he added, could help create new investment opportunities, expand business ties and accelerate bilateral trade.

He expressed hope that the Indian High Commissioner's initiatives would contribute to further strengthening Bangladesh-India relations and taking economic cooperation to a new level.

Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi said that despite political and economic differences between the two countries, the people of Bangladesh and India share a common aspiration for development and prosperity.

He stressed the need for both countries to work together, particularly in the interests of future generations.

The High Commissioner also emphasized that Bangladesh and India are independent and sovereign states and that bilateral relations should be based on equality and mutual respect.

He identified economic cooperation as a key pillar for improving bilateral relations, saying stronger economic ties would naturally help expand cooperation in other areas.

Highlighting the potential for joint investment and manufacturing, Trivedi praised Bangladesh's globally successful readymade garment industry. He said Indian businesses could support Bangladesh's apparel sector by supplying products such as zippers, machinery and buttons, thereby creating greater economic interdependence and strengthening bilateral supply chains.

The High Commissioner said he feels proud when he sees the “Made in Bangladesh” label on garments in international markets and expressed confidence that Bangladesh's apparel industry could achieve further growth through joint initiatives.

The discussions are expected to pave the way for greater cooperation between businesses of the two countries, new investment opportunities and stronger supply chains, contributing to the expansion of Bangladesh-India trade in the coming days.