Import (General)

Bangladesh: Import (general)

Important: Be sure to check both general and product-based categories for relevant information.Product-based categories include parts and accessories unless otherwise specified. See disclaimer belowand use independent care before relying on this information.

General import regulations and requirements

Most goods imported into Bangladesh, regardless of entered value, are required to submit to a

Pre-Shipment Inspection. For further details see field for "Pre-Shipment Inspection/Other Pre-ShipmentRequirements".

Bangladesh observes a boycott of Israel.Imports may not ship on Israeli flag vessels.

No vessel or aircraft used for shipments to Bangladesh may call on any port in Israel.

(Last updated on 2012-05-18)

Import customs tariff

Bangladesh uses the Harmonized Tariff System for tariff classification.

Tariff rates are set at 10, 15, 20, and 25 %. Certain products are exempt from duties.

Additional taxes/charges which may apply:

15 % value-added tax

Supplemental tax on certain goodsLanding fee

Insurance charge


Customs valuation basis

Specific duty rates are based on net weight.

Ad valorem duties are based on value assessed as follows: CFR value, plus insurance fee (1%) andlanding charge (1%).

Bangladesh also applies the WTO Customs Valuation agreement. According to this agreement, there aresix acceptable methods of determining customs value. Typically the first method is used (unless the buyer

and seller are related parties). When the value cannot be obtained this way, or is rejected by customs, oneof the other methods is to be used, in descending order:

Transaction value (the price actually paid or payable by the importer, plus certain costs andexpenses)

1.

Transaction value of identical goods2.Transaction value of similar goods3.

Deductive value (the sale or resale value, reduced by certain costs such as customs duties, taxes,and commissions)

4.

Computed value (calculated by adding together certain costs/values for production, materials, profitand other expenses)

5.

Bangladesh: Import (general) http://www.gistnet.com/cidb-sample/bd.import.html

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Fall-back method6.

See additional information on the WTO website under WTO Customs Valuation.


General import license/permit requirements

Most goods do not require an import license. The Ministry of Commerce requires registration of eachimporter. Prior approval is required to import goods on the restricted list. Certain restricted goods may be

imported only by authorized users. There are no tariff quotas on imports.


Prohibited or highly restricted imports

All goods from Israel, Serbia and/or Montenegro are prohibited.

Prohibited articles may include the following: artificial mustard oil, eggs (except hatching eggs), fishing

nets (gillnets), grass, horror comics, lard and tallow oil, lard, live pigs, motorbikes more than three yearsold, nylon and polyethylene ropes, obscene and subversive literature or similar types of materials; opium,

pig and poultry fat, pig hair, poppy seeds and dried posto dana, raw sugar, selected insecticides, selectedpetroleum products, single phase electricity meters solid or semi-solid palm oil, some kinds of cloth,

tendu leaves, un-denatured ethyl alcohol (80% or higher) and other denatured spirits of any strength, usedor new rags, vessels more than 15 years old, wine, woven fabrics of silk or silk waste.

Restricted articles may include the following, in alphabetical order: goods bearing pictures or writingwhich is obscene or of a religious connotation which may injure the religious feelings of any class of

Bangladeshi citizens; printed material, posters, video tapes, etc. containing matters likely to outrage thereligious feelings and beliefs of any class of Bangladeshi citizens; unless otherwise specified, old,

second-hand and reconditioned goods; unless otherwise specified, all kinds of waste; reconditioned officeequipment (i.e., photocopier, typewriter, telex, computer, phone, fax machine).


Foreign exchange controls and letters of credit

Foreign exchange is controlled by the government through the central bank, the Bangladesh Bank, POB325, Dhaka; phone: +88 2 712 0357; fax: +88 2 712 0336; email: [email protected];

[email protected]

It administers foreign exchange control through authorized commercial banks and financial institutions.

Unless otherwise specified, all imports must be made by opening an Irrevocable Letter of Credit.Importers are required to have Letter of Credit Authorization (LCA) forms.

The unit of currency is the BDT = Bangladeshi Taka [ ] (subdivided into 100 Poisha).


Pre-shipment requirements

A Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI) is required. Such an inspection involves a physical inspection of thegoods and in addition a price comparison of the merchandise in order to:

Ensure that prices charged by exporters reflect the true value of the shipped goods.Prevent substandard goods from entering Bangladesh's commerce.


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Mitigate attempts by importers to avoid payment of customs duties.

The Standards Import Inspection Regulations (SIIR) issued by the Botswana Bureau of Standards

(BOBS), Plot 55745, Block 8, Main Airport Rd. POB B0 48, Gaborone; phone: +267 390 3200; fax: +267390 3120; email: [email protected]; require certification for a variety of imported goods in order

to clear customs (see notice below under Standards).

For more information concerning BOBS requirements contact:

Intertek, Government & Trade Services, Academy Place, 1-9 Brook Street, Brentwood, EssexCM14 5NQ, UK; phone: +44 1277 223 400; fax: +44 1277 220 296; email: [email protected]

Bureau Veritas BIVAX Ltd., 84, Kazi Nazrul, Islam Ave., Farmgate, BD-1215 Dhaka; phone: +8802 911 2183, +880 2 912 9723, +880 2 912 9724, +880 2 912 7714, +880 2 811 8196: Fax: +880 2

811 7891 and +880 2 912 6486; email: [email protected] Product Conformity Assessment (PCA), 1, Place des Alpes, POB 2152, CH-1211 Geneva,

Switzerland; phone: +41 22 739 9111; fax: +41 22 739 9886; email: [email protected]


Commercial invoice

A commercial invoice is required for every commercial shipment and should conform to the information

requirements described in our definition.

At least three (3) original, signed copies should be sent to the consignee or the agent thereof with the

other shipping documents. The shipper should confirm the exact number of copies required with theconsignee.

Country of origin information should be included, unless a separate certificate of origin is requested.A pro-forma invoice is needed in advance for the required letter of credit (L/C).

Each non-commercial shipment will also require a pro-forma invoice.

For airfreight shipments, in most cases, the shipping documents should accompany the cargo and/or the

airwaybill (AWB).

For more information on preparing and distributing commercial invoices, see GISTnet headings:

Commercial Invoice and Shipping Document Distribution Based on Specific Functional Needs.


Packing list

A packing list is recommended to facilitate customs clearance.

In general, it is recommended that a packing list be used with all shipments containing more than one

shipping unit of packaged cargo. Most countries require a packing list be provided together with thecommercial invoice. The required information must be consistent with all information shown on the

commercial invoice.

At least three (3) copies of the packing list should be included as part of the shipping documents sent to

the consignee or the agent thereof. The exact contents of each package should be clearly identified. Thisshould include each item's gross weight and net weight and each package's marks and numbers.


Transport document


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A properly prepared transport document is required for transportation purposes and as a source documentfor customs clearance purposes at the port of entry.

For ocean cargo, three (3) copies of an ocean bill of lading are required."To order" B/Ls are acceptable.

For detailed information on completing a bill of lading, please see our GISTnet Interactive Bill of LadingExhibit.

Scroll down to see the form, and click on any data field for details of the information required there.For airfreight, an air waybill (AWB) is required.


Certificate of Origin (general)

When required by the buyer/consignee or the terms of a letter of credit (L/C); a shipper should consultwith the customer in Bangladesh to determine the exact number of C/O copies needed.

At the very least, three (3) copies should be prepared, using the general certificate of origin (CO, C/O)form that is available from a commercial printer.

Once completed, each C/O must be signed and each signature must be notarized.Following notarization, each C/O must be certified by a recognized Chamber of Commerce.


Official cargo insurance requirements

Every import shipment to Bangladesh is required to be covered by shipping insurance underwritten by the

Sadaran Bima Corporation or any other Bangladeshi insurance company.A copy of the insurance certificate or the insurance policy is required to be included among the shipping

documents.


Wood packaging materials

All Wood Packing Material (WPM) must be made from debarked wood. It must be treated, certified and

stamped with the internationally standard WPM Mark, according to the ISPM-15 Standard.

Review "International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures" document as outlined in Guidelines for

Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade, issued by the International Plant ProtectionConvention (IPPC), Plant Protection Service, U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United

Nations (FAO), Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, I-00100 Rome, Italy; fax: +39 6 570 56347; e-mail:[email protected]

Also see Overview on Wood Packaging Material as it applies to EU rules governing transportationPackaging (including dunnage) and New Import Requirements for wood and wood packaging material to

prevent the introduction of organisms harmful to plants and plant products.

To prevent the spread of Pine Wood Nematode (PWN) in EU countries, consignments of coniferous wood

originating from outside Europe and from Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkey must carry a phytosanitarycertificate

Contact: Plant Protection Wing, Dept. of Agricultural Extension, Bangladesh; phone: +88 2 913 1295;fax:+88 2 911 1554; e-mail: [email protected]



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Shipment packaging and marking requirements

Exporters should consult with their customers to confirm any special packing requirements.

In general, follow standard shipping practices.

Export packing must be strong enough to withstand weather conditions, pilferage, and rough handlingduring the cargo's through transportation.

Each package should be uniquely numbered if there is more than one shipping unit in the consignmentand each package should be marked with: contents & quantity, name & address of consignee, country of

origin, port of loading, port of discharge, net weight, gross weight, cubic measurement and marks &numbers.

Dangerous goods require the use of U.N. Performance Oriented Packaging (UN POP).Straw or hay used in packing must be certified to be free of insects and disease.


Product packaging/labeling requirements

Exporters should confirm with their customers regarding product-specific packaging and labelingrequirements.

Generally, labeling must show country of origin and complete manufacturer's name and address.Specific packaging and labeling requirements apply to food, agricultural and chemical products and to

other products and commodities.Obscene words or transcriptions are not permitted.


Standards

Product standards are regulated by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), 116/A,

Tejgaon Industrial Area, BD-1208 Dhaka; phone: +880 2 887 0275; fax: +880 2 913 1581; email:[email protected], dg_ [email protected]

Also see ISO Standards Membership and BSTI details.

Note: Certain products are subject to standards requirements.


Important: Exercise independent care before relying on information contained herein. Although we strive to ensure allinformation is correct and current, GISTnet assumes no liability for detrimental reliance on this information. Trade requirementsmay change with little or no prior notification, de-facto requirements in certain countries vary from official regulations, andparticular shipments and/or importers may have special destination customs arrangements. We encourage you to check with theimporter or its customs agent in the destination country for specific importation requirements for specific products andcircumstances. We ask your help with feedback ([email protected]) concerning information which may be outdated orincomplete.


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Import (General)

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