Bangladesh Customs Import and Export Goods Policies

Summary:

This article primarily discusses the import and export policies of Bangladesh Customs, detailing the trade liberalization reforms carried out in the 1990s and the regulatory measures for managing both the import and export of goods.

Trade Management Regulations

To accelerate the process of trade liberalization, the Bangladeshi government implemented a series of effective reforms in the 1990s, including tariff reduction, reduction of import and export restrictions, and the reform of the diversified exchange rate system into a unified system.

Import Management

Bangladesh has adopted a trade liberalization policy, but many general goods are still listed in the prohibited/restricted import list. Prohibited imports include: terrorist, obscene or destructive literature (in any form), books, newspapers, periodicals, pictures, films, and audiovisual storage media that are inconsistent with the religious beliefs of Bangladesh, second-hand office equipment, copiers, telegraphs, telephones, fax machines, all types of waste, pork and its products, etc. Bangladesh generally requires the use of irrevocable letters of credit for international trade settlement, and CIF trade terms are not permitted for imports.

Export Management

Most goods in Bangladesh can be freely exported. Restricted exports include: urea, audiovisual entertainment programs, natural gas by-products, and sectoral chemical products listed in the Chemical Weapons (Control) Act. Prohibited exports include: other petrochemical products except natural gas by-products, jute seeds, wheat, weapons, radioactive materials, archaeological artifacts, human organs and blood, and all types of shrimp except frozen shrimp, wildlife, etc. Additionally, to encourage exports, the Bangladeshi government has formulated special policies for textile enterprises, frozen fish, jute, leather, ships, and agricultural processed products.