Modi govt punishes Bangladesh, lesson for anti-India Yunus as Centre decided to end….

In a significant move that reflects growing tensions between India and Bangladesh, New Delhi has decided to end a special trade route that allowed Bangladeshi goods to pass through Indian ports and airports en route to the Middle East, Europe, and other global markets. This transshipment facility, which had been in place since 2020 and formally extended in 2022, gave Bangladesh easier access to international trade routes by using Indian infrastructure. However, India has now officially withdrawn the facility, effective April 8.

The decision comes shortly after a controversial remark made by Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government, during a visit to China. Yunus claimed that India’s northeastern states are “landlocked” and can only access the sea through Bangladesh. His comments sparked backlash and are believed to have contributed to India’s decision to roll back the facility.

However, India has made it clear that the exemption will continue for Bangladeshi goods headed to Nepal and Bhutan. These two countries are landlocked, and under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, such transit access is mandatory for them.

Explaining the move, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the facility had become a burden on India’s own ports and airports. “It was causing serious congestion, leading to delays and extra costs for our exporters,” he stated.

He added that the resulting backlogs were affecting India’s own shipments and creating logistical challenges.

With this development, Bangladesh will now need to rely more heavily on its own ports or seek alternative arrangements for its exports, at least for destinations beyond Nepal and Bhutan. The move also signals a cooling of diplomatic warmth between the two neighbours.

India ends export route for Bangladesh

The decision was confirmed by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), which issued a notification withdrawing the transshipment facility. The arrangement had allowed Bangladeshi cargo to pass through Indian territory for international trade.

However, Indian officials have clarified that this change won’t impact Bangladeshi goods being transported to Nepal or Bhutan, as both are landlocked countries and are entitled to such access under international trade rules.

Tensions escalated further after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Yunus on April 4 in Bangkok during the BIMSTEC summit. While India acknowledged the meeting, it expressed displeasure over how Bangladesh’s side portrayed it.

Specifically, Indian officials rejected Dhaka’s claims that Modi responded positively to Yunus’ request to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The description of the meeting was labeled as “politically motivated” and “misleading,” particularly the parts about minority issues and extradition talks.

Shafiqul Alam, Yunus’ press secretary, posted on Facebook that the extradition request was raised with Modi and the “response was not negative.” However, Indian sources have dismissed this version, saying it misrepresented Modi’s views and was factually inaccurate.

New Delhi has yet to officially respond to Bangladesh’s earlier request for Hasina’s extradition, made in 2023.

India-Bangladesh ties strained over minority attacks and China’s involvement in Teesta project

India’s relationship with Bangladesh has taken a sharp downturn in recent months, largely due to growing concerns over rising violence against minorities—especially Hindus—in Bangladesh under the current interim leadership of Muhammad Yunus.

One of the biggest points of friction has been the failure of the interim government in Dhaka to stop attacks on minority communities. This issue was brought up directly by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his meeting with Yunus in Bangkok on Friday, on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit.

According to an official Indian statement, Modi made it clear that the safety of Hindus and other minority groups in Bangladesh is a serious concern for New Delhi. He also advised that “rhetoric that worsens the situation should be avoided.”

Another sensitive issue adding fuel to the tensions is Bangladesh’s move to involve China in a major project on the Teesta River, a river shared with India. India has long viewed Chinese involvement in South Asian water projects as a strategic red flag.

Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that both countries share 54 rivers—including the Teesta and Ganga—and that there is an existing dialogue platform called the Joint Rivers Commission to handle such matters. However, he added that any discussions on water-sharing or joint projects can only happen when the overall atmosphere between the two nations is cooperative.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has been living in New Delhi since August last year after fleeing political instability and alleged threats in Dhaka. Her presence in India is believed to be another underlying factor in the strained relationship.

India has not yet responded formally to Dhaka’s request to extradite Hasina, but the recent developments and public statements suggest that New Delhi is watching the situation closely—and may be losing patience with the Yunus-led interim government.

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