Sources in the business circle said the ban will be effective only on the commodities produced domestically in India.

They said the ban, however, will not hamper the export of products, which were earlier imported to India from any third country.

Utilising the third country provision, Bangladesh can import sugar from India, which the Indian importers procured from countries like Brazil, Thailand or elsewhere.

Apart from producing sugar domestically, India usually imports raw sugar from different countries and after refining, it exports the finished sugar to other countries.

Soon after imposition of the ban, Commerce Minister Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said the decision of the Indian government to stop export of wheat, sugar and pulses to other countries will not have any negative impact on the Bangladesh market.

Our Staff correspondent from Khulna reported that no shipment of pulses entered Bangladesh from India through Benapole land port since Thursday as India placed a ban on the export of sugar, pulses and wheat.

Petrapole customs authorities, Indian side of the land port, received a letter on Thursday from the Indian government enforcing the ban.

Sources from the Benapole customs confirmed the Indian ban particularly on the export of pulses for the next six months. Sources said at least 30 trucks loaded with over 700 tons of pulses remain stranded at Petrapole as Indian customs authorities refused to give clearance to them to enter Benapole land port.

Indian exporters are reported to have sharply reacted to the sudden ban on the export of pulses, sugar and wheat. They would go to court against the decision of the Indian government, said an Indian daily quoting Babla Chakravorty, secretary of Bongaon C&F Agents' Association.

Many trucks carrying pulses went back to Kolkata at noon yesterday after their consignments were not cleared at Patrapole land port, Benapole customs officials said.

Meanwhile, price of pulses have soared up to Tk 65 per kg yesterday in Khulna. It was Tk 56 on Thursday.