Bangladesh stops new import permits for onion from India

Bangladesh has stopped issuing fresh import permits for Indian onions through the Hili land port, citing the need to protect the interests of domestic farmers, reported The Times of India. Although around 10 lakh tonnes of onions have been shipped to the eastern neighbour, officials said Indian onions continue to be in strong demand in other countries.

“We expect onion will find more takers in the international market because of its quality,” an official told TOI.

Between August 2023 and April 2025, India imposed a series of restrictions on onion exports. Earlier, shipments were banned for six months starting September 2019 and again for five months from September 2020. These repeated curbs led to sharp price spikes in markets that traditionally depended on Indian onions. In 2020, Bangladesh even sent a diplomatic note to New Delhi, flagging concerns over India’s frequent policy changes on onion exports.

At present, Bangladesh is not importing onions from India, a move aimed at protecting its farmers and boosting domestic production. In 2023–24, India exported 7.24 lakh tonnes of onions to Bangladesh—accounting for 42% of its total onion exports of 17.17 lakh tonnes that year. However, during April–September 2025–26, exports to Bangladesh were limited to just 12,900 tonnes. The Centre believes that the reluctance to import Indian onions is also influenced by the current political dispensation in Dhaka.