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Published : 11 Jan 2026, 07:37 PM
Commerce Advisor Sheikh Bashir Uddin has said Bangladesh’s trade relations with India have not been affected immediately following the exclusion of Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Speaking at the Secretariat on Sunday, he said: “Nothing of that sort is visible at the moment."
On Jan 3, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly instructed IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to drop the fast bowler from their squad. The team subsequently announced his release.
Following the incident, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting ordered the suspension of all IPL broadcasts and events in Bangladesh, while the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) decided not to send the national team to India for the T20 World Cup, citing security concerns.
Mustafizur had been signed by Kolkata Knight Riders for 92 million rupees.
Indian media had reported heightened tensions over recent violent incidents against religious minorities in Bangladesh, and debate had surrounded Mustafizur’s participation in the IPL.
Asked about the impact on trade, Bashir noted that export-import trends over the past five years show normal fluctuations, driven by Bangladesh’s import needs, economic capacity, and export goals.
“In that context, we do not see any immediate effect.”
Since the 2024 political upheaval, bilateral relations have been tense, with reciprocal import-export restrictions affecting trade.
On May 18, India banned the import of nearly seven Bangladeshi products, including processed food and garments. A month later, India imposed reciprocal restrictions on Bangladeshi yarn imports, set to take immediate effect.
Towards late October, the government limited trade via Benapole Land Port, closing all operations after 6pm without prior notice. On Dec 18, the National Board of Revenue announced round-the-clock monitoring of all Indian trucks at the port.
Bashir said the longer-term effect on trade can only be assessed over time.
“We have implemented different trade measures and border protocols, but their impact is not yet clear. Bangladesh engages in liberal trade globally and avoids bilateral restrictions unless local economic interests are at risk,” he added.
He also noted that a draft of the new Import Policy Order (IPO) for 2025-2028 has been prepared, replacing the 2021-2024 policy.
“We are pursuing trade liberalisation, inclusivity, and fairness, with all institutions working collectively to implement structural and cultural reforms,” he said.
