Bhutan has abruptly banned import of consumer items from Bangladesh since the month of March this year on grounds of ‘a crunch in foreign currency’ there. Bangladeshi exporters said stopped sending consignments to Bhutan for a couple of months after the Bhutanese government issued a circular banning imports of non-essential items from any third country that means excepting India. “The Bhutan government does not allow any import order from Bangladesh after issuance of the circular,” said Raju Ahmed, general secretary of Bangladesh Agro-Processors Association (BAPA). Ahmed said they (Bhutan) mentioned an ongoing crisis of Indian Rupee has forced them to make this decision.
“We came to know about the matter as the circular was published in the Bhutanese media,” Ahmed said. 
“We inquired about the matter at the Bhutanese embassy in Dhaka but did not get any satisfactory answer.”
He said BAPA has notified Bangladesh ministry of commerce, foreign affairs and FBCCI on the matter.
“We used to export juice, drinks, chips, crackers and other consumer items worth around three lakh dollars to Bhutan per month. But now the export became zero,” said Tanvir Islam, general manager (export) of Pran RFL Group.
He told the independent that Bhutan importers told him that their government had cancelled issuance of any import license which are valued at more than $ 1.5 lakh. Normally, Bhutan government issues an import license allowing $1.5 lakh worth of goods for six months.
Exporters said around 10-12 leading Bangladeshi companies were involved in exporting goods to Bhutan.
Export-import business between Bhutan and Bangladesh is heavily tilted in favour of Bhutan. In the year 2010-2011, Bhutan exported goods worth of $19 million while Bangladesh exported only 3.12 million to Bhutan.
The trade issues including export –import business between Bhutan and Bangladesh would be highlighted in the upcoming commerce ministerial level meetings between two neighbouring countries, commerce ministry source said.
Commerce minister GM Quader is likely to pay a visit to Bhutan in the last part of next month. According to a Bhutanese media report Bhutan is finally set to sign the long drawn out transit agreement with Bangladesh in the forthcoming meeting between the Bhutanese  Ministry of Economic Affairs (MoEA) and the Bangladesh Ministry of Commerce (MoC).
The primary objective of the meeting is to heighten bilateral trade and expedite transit facility between the two South Asian nations.
The secretary-level meeting between Bangladesh and Bhutan which was scheduled to be held on May 9 in the Bhutanse capital Thimpu has been postponed to the second week of June, and the ministers’ meet towards the end of June, according to sources.