Last Updated on June 8, 2026 11:19 pm by BIZNAMA NEWS
Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
Bangladesh’s largest trade deficit in South Asia is with India, amounting to $7.86 billion in FY 2024-25, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir told parliament on Tuesday.
Responding to a question from Sarwar Jamal Nizam MP, the minister said Bangladesh currently has trade deficits with four SAARC members, India, Afghanistan, Bhutan and Pakistan, while maintaining surpluses with Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
In a scripted reply, Muktadir said exports to India had grown under the SAFTA framework, but the deficit continued due to rising imports of food and industrial raw materials.
Citing data from Bangladesh’s central Bank and the National Board of Revenue, he said Bangladesh exported goods worth $1.76 billion to India against imports of $9.62 billion, resulting in a deficit of $7.86 billion.
Bangladesh also recorded a $681.30 million trade deficit with Pakistan, with exports at $74 million and imports at $755.30 million. With Afghanistan, exports stood at $11.09 million against imports of $21.80 million, leaving a deficit of $10.71 million. Trade with Bhutan also remained negative, with exports of $14.33 million and imports of $44.10 million, creating a deficit of $29.77 million.
However, Bangladesh posted trade surpluses with Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Exports to Nepal reached $35.40 million against imports of $5.50 million, yielding a surplus of $29.90 million. With Sri Lanka, exports stood at $82.85 million against imports of $76.60 million, resulting in a surplus of $6.25 million. Exports to the Maldives amounted to $6.35 million against imports of $3.50 million, leaving a surplus of $2.85 million.