In January 2025, Bangladesh’s imports from India increased by 17.27%, despite political and public discourse advocating reduced dependency on Indian goods. Data from India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry shows that during the first ten months (April-January) of the Indian fiscal year 2024-25, India’s global exports grew by only 1.39%, while exports to Bangladesh rose by 6.6%. In contrast, India’s overall exports contracted by 2.41% in January, but exports to Bangladesh surged. Bangladesh imported goods worth $939.09 billion from India in April-January 2024-25, compared to $880.99 billion in the previous fiscal year. Key imports include cotton, food grains, minerals, fuel, and electricity, while Bangladesh mainly exports ready-made garments to India. Despite political tensions, economic interdependence persists, with Bangladesh increasingly reliant on India for essential goods like fuel and food. Experts suggest that while public sentiment may be anti-India, economic realities dictate continued trade engagement. However, prolonged hostility could eventually impact bilateral trade.
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