Dawki: While India’s recent import restrictions on certain Bangladeshi goods have disrupted trade across several northeastern states, the scene at Dawki Land Port tells a different story—one where the rhythm of daily cross-border commerce continues, albeit with shifting patterns.
Situated along the India-Bangladesh border, the Dawki Land Port in Meghalaya has long been known for its steady export of limestone and boulders to Bangladesh. A visit to the bustling trade zone revealed that while imports have come to a standstill, the port remains a critical artery for Meghalaya’s mineral economy.
At the customs checkpoint, Inspector Naveen explained the shift: “Imports through Dawki were limited to plasticware—about five or six trucks a week. Since the ban on plasticware imports, that activity has completely stopped. But our exports continue.”
Indeed, the rugged landscape surrounding Dawki hides an economic powerhouse. The region’s natural wealth—limestone and stone boulders—feeds construction and cement industries across the border. However, even this lifeline has felt the tremors of regional instability. Exporters who once dispatched nearly 1,000 trucks a day are now sending fewer than half that number.
“The political situation in Bangladesh has affected the flow,” said an exporter who manages a fleet of trucks. “Earlier, business was booming. Now, we’re operating at less than 40% capacity.”
Despite the slowdown, local authorities remain optimistic. Plans are underway to diversify Dawki’s export portfolio. One such initiative includes the potential import of fish from Bangladesh—a move that could reduce Meghalaya’s reliance on long-haul fish supplies from Andhra Pradesh. “This is still in the planning stages,” said a port official. “But it could benefit the region both economically and in terms of food security.”
Meanwhile, a walk through Dawki town offers a peek into the smaller, more personal impacts of the trade shift. At the local market, vendors still stock a trickle of Bangladeshi biscuits, chips, and other packaged snacks—remnants from earlier import cycles. “These products sell well,” said a small trader, pointing to his shelf. “They are profitable, and customers like them. I worry about what happens when we run out.”
Yet, not all shopkeepers share that concern. A couple running a modest grocery store near the port welcomed the government’s move. “It hasn’t hurt us,” they said. “Indian-made chocolates are doing really well—even with Bangladeshi customers who cross over to shop.”
Their words capture the nuanced reality of border trade at Dawki: shaped by policy, powered by geology, and sustained by people on both sides of the border who rely on it for their livelihoods.
For now, Dawki continues to hum with the sound of trucks loading stone and the chatter of markets adjusting to change—its future dependent on how well it can balance its mineral strength with new economic opportunities.
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