Bangladesh's trade deficit with the rest of the world stood at $24.17 billion in the fiscal year 2024-25, with the deficit with India alone amounting to $7.86 billion, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir told Parliament on Sunday.
“In the 2024-25 fiscal year, exports amounted to $55.19 billion. In contrast, imports totaled $79.36 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $24.17 billion,” he said, while replying to a question from treasury bench lawmaker Nilufar Chowdhury Moni (Women Seat-10).
During the 2024-25 fiscal year, goods from Bangladesh were exported to 202 destinations, the minister said.
He said the readymade garment (RMG) sector accounted for 84% of the country's export earnings.
Replying to a question from opposition Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Md Keramat Ali (Chapainawabganj-1), the commerce minister said Bangladesh, as a member of the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) and the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA), enjoys duty-free and quota-free access to the Indian market for all products except 25 items, including tobacco and alcoholic beverages.
According to the statistics placed by him, Bangladesh had trade deficits with four Saarc member countries – Afghanistan, Bhutan, India and Pakistan, while positive imbalance with three other Saarc members in favour of Bangladesh.
Among the Saarc countries, Bangladesh had the highest trade deficit with India, which stood at $7,860 million in the fiscal year 2024-25.
Meanwhile, replying to a question from Opposition Chief whip and NCP lawmaker Nahid Islam (Dhaka-11), the minister said Bangladesh's trade deficit with India stood at $9,246.41 million in the fiscal year 2025-26.
During that fiscal year, Bangladesh exported goods worth $1,802.17 million to India against imports worth $11,048.58 million from the country, he said.
Responding to a question from independent lawmaker Sk Mozibur Rahman Iqbal (Kishoreganj-5), Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said Bangladesh earned $13,746.35 million from RMG exports during July-October of the current fiscal year 2026-27.
The earnings marked a 5.82% increase from $12,990.36 million recorded during the same period of the previous fiscal year, he said.
Replying to a question from ruling party lawmaker Md Abul Kalam (Comilla-9), the commerce minister said the Dhaka International Trade Fair 2026 generated export orders worth Tk224.26 crore, which was 42.79% lower than the Tk392 crore recorded at the fair in 2025.
In response to a supplementary question from BNP lawmaker Nadia Pathan Papon (Women Seat-32), the commerce minister expressed optimism that the supply of essential commodities would be better during the upcoming Ramadan than in the previous year.
“Considering the market situation so far, we hope prices will remain within a tolerable range during the next Ramadan, provided there is no natural disaster or major change in the international situation,” he said.
