Why Have Delhi's Auto Parts Traders Halted Exports To Bangladesh?

In response to reports of violence against Hindus and attacks on temples in Bangladesh, traders in Delhi's Kashmere Gate auto parts market have announced a halt in exports to the neighbouring country.

This decision impacts nearly 2,000 auto parts shops, as confirmed by the Automotive Parts Merchants’ Association president, Vinay Narang.

“The atrocities that have happened to Hindus there (Bangladesh), our temples have been destroyed, and many of our Hindu brothers have been killed there. It was wrong... Our market (Kashmere Gate Auto Parts Market) has decided that we will stop business with Bangladesh,” Narang said, as reported by ANI.

Export Ban to Last Until January 15
Narang emphasized that the decision to suspend business is meant to convey traders' discontent with the situation in Bangladesh. He added that Bangladesh, as a developing country, relies heavily on imported car parts for its transportation sector.

“It (Bangladesh) is a developing country. If car parts are not available, then transportation will stop... We want them to realize their mistake. There are about 20,000 auto parts shops in Kashmere Gate, and 2,000 shops may be exporting to Bangladesh, all of them have stopped their work,” Narang said as mentioned in the report by ANI.

The export ban is set to last until January 15, with the possibility of an extension if necessary. Narang added that despite financial losses and frozen payments, traders remain committed to the decision.

US and International Reactions
Meanwhile, the United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan held discussions with Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, reaffirming U.S. support for a “prosperous, stable, and democratic” Bangladesh. Both leaders stressed the need to protect human rights during the conversation, as per ANI reports.

In a related development, Mahesh Sachdev, former Ambassador to Bangladesh, highlighted that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina could legally contest extradition requests from the interim Bangladeshi government.

In an interview with ANI, Sachdev noted that extradition treaties typically rule out political considerations, giving Hasina grounds to challenge the process in court.