RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/BOP/G/10
25 April 2000
(00-1670)
Committee on Balance-of-Payments Restrictions Original:  English
FULL CONSULTATIONS WITH BANGLADESH
Basic Document Supplied by Bangladesh
I. POLICY FRAMEWORK
1. In recent days the Government of Bangladesh has been undertaking widespread economic
reforms aimed at the creation of a liberal investment and trading environment and promotion of an
open, free-market economy.  The erstwhile system of licenses, permits and controls on business
activities has been abolished and exchange restrictions removed.
2. Bangladesh is diligently taking appropriate policy measures to implement fully and properly
its commitments under the Uruguay Round Agreements.  We have fulfilled the myriad obligations in
different areas of the Agreement especially relating to tariffs, textiles and clothing, among others.
Despite the costs involved and the difficulties confronted in the process, our efforts to live up to our
contractual obligations will be implemented fully.
3. In the background of the current global economic environment, and the policy framework of
gradual liberalization and privatization pursued by the Government of Bangladesh, two of the major
economic problems we face at this stage are:
• endemic poverty, which affects almost 50% of our population;  and
• external sector uncertainties and the domestic budget shortfall in current account
which retards our development efforts.
4. Despite these debilitating symptoms of our struggling economy, the main goals of our
economic development strategy remain the same.  These are:
• sustained stable growth with low inflation;
• ensuring equality of opportunity for all in the economic market-place;
• education with universal adult literacy, health, human resource development and
poverty alleviation across the population;
• protection and enhancement of rights of children and women in an ever modernising
social policy;
• transparency in bureaucracy and legislation with the primacy of law over every other
social institution;
• accountability, plurality and full participation of all in the democratic process;  and
• protection of the environment and the special biodiversity of the natural endowment
of the landmass that is Bangladesh.
5. Bangladesh's main imports are industrial raw materials, machinery and food items (Table 1).
The erratic, yet sharp upward trend in the import cost of these items is for us a major cause for
concern.  Domestic price increases in food particularly has a disproportionate negative welfare impact
on low income households, who form the overwhel ming bulk of our population.  To pre-empt orWT/BOP/G/10
Page 2
rectify a sharp increase in the price of essential food items, Bangladesh often has no choice but to
import considerable amounts of food paid for from her own meager resources.  This causes a painful
shift of scarce revenue from the vital developmental sectors like education, energy, health and
infrastructure, delaying the socio-economic development process as a whole.
Table 1
Main Exports and Imports
Total Merchandise Exports
Merchandise Est.
$ millions $ millions $ millions $ millions $ millions
1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99
Ready-made garments 1,839.0 1,948.8 2,238.0 2,843.3 2,984.7
Knitwear and hosiery products 393.0 598.3 763.3 940.3 1,035.4
Jute goods (excl. carpets) 310.0 324.8 313.3 278.6 301.9
Frozen shrimps and fish 306.0 313.7 320.0 293.8 274.3Leather and leather products 202.0 211.7 195.0 190.3 168.2Raw jute 79.0 90.7 116.0 107.8 71.8
Tea 33.0 33.1 38.0 47.5 38.6
Total Exports 3,473.0 3,882.4 4,418.3 5,161.2 5,312.9
Total Merchandise Imports
Merchandise Est.
$ millions $ millions $ millions $ millions $ millions
1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99
Capital goods 1,688.0 1,918.0 1,937.0 2,072.0 1,969.0
Textiles 1,025.0 1,043.0 1,098.0 1,264.0 1,109.0
Food grains 476.0 586.0 184.0 369.0 1,031.0Edible oil 220.0 179.0 216.0 216.0 287.0
Yarn 200.0 296.0 395.0 327.0 283.0
Petroleum products 206.0 290.0 341.0 295.0 270.0Cotton 135.0 185.0 195.0 207.0 233.0
Total imports 5,834.0 6,881.0 7,162.0 7,520.0 8,054.0
Source:  Based on the International Monetary Fund, Bangladesh:  Recent Economic Developments , March 2000.
II. TRADE LIBERALIZATION
6. Since the 1980s the process of liberalization with thrust on simplification of import trade has
got under way with noticeable urgency.  In the financial year (FY) 1989-90 a large descriptive list ofimportables was replaced by a negative and a restricted list of unimportables.  Items not included in
these two latter lists were freely importable.  The five-year Import Policy Order (IPO) of 1997-2002
contains two separate lists i.e. a negative list for items banned and a restricted list for items allowed
under certain conditions.  (For the convenience of th e reader, the respective lists are attached;  they
can also be found in WT/TPR/S/68 as tables AIII .3 and AIII.4).  The items remaining outside theseWT/BOP/G/10
Page 3
two lists are freely importable.  The five-year IPO strengthens predictability and transparency in the
import trade, which is beneficial to the long-term interest of traders as well as public sector regulators.
7. The main features of the current five-year IPO (1997-2002) are:
• the number of negative and restricted it ems have been reduced from 708 to 118 .  The
liberalization programme currently undertaken is not complete, it is a gradual and
continuous process;
• further gradual withdrawal/removal of import restrictions will continue;
• provision for allocation of foreign currency by the Government continues to remain
abolished;
• Pass Book System discarded since 4 December 1994 still remain discarded.  The
importers are now at liberty to import any quantity they choose;
• limit of import without LC has been raised from US$2500 to US$5000 during each
FY against remittance from Bangladeshi abroad ;
• Barter and State Trading Arrangement (STA) systems continue to remain abolished;
• Import Policy has been made compatible with changes in the world market as well as
a result of the full shift towards market economy and signing of the GATT
Agreement;
• simplification of the procedures for import of capital machinery and industrial raw
materials with a view to promoting exports is being pursued vigorously;
• banned list:  unless otherwise specified, items included in this list cannot be imported.
List of import-banned items is known publicly;
• restricted list:  an item included in this list may be imported only on fulfilment of
conditions specified against the item.  The list of restricted items is known publicly;
• pre-shipment inspection:  unless otherwise specified, pre-shipment inspection of
imported goods is obligatory in case of import by private sector importers .
III. THE BALANCE-OF-PAYMENTS SITUATION
8. Despite long-term sound health of the economy, the balance-of-payments position however,
remains delicate in the short-term.  This is larg ely due to the immediate effect of deregulation and
tariff liberalization following the URA, which caused a sudden rise in imports of consumer durables
causing a depletion in the hard currency reserve.  But the Government did not respond to this changein the BOP situation with restrictive interven tions.  Where the import bill for FY 1996-97 was
US$7162 million, for FY 1997-98 it rose to US$7520 million, a rise of 5%.  During the first half of
FY 1998-99 the import bill has been registered at US$3839 million which is 4.32% higher than the
bill of the same period in the previous FY (Table 2).WT/BOP/G/10
Page 4
Table 2
Balance-of-payments (current account)
Country Goods and services Net income aNet current
transfers bCurrent
account
balanceGross
international
reserves
Exports Imports
$ millions $ millions $ millions $ millions $ millions $ millions
1997 1997 1997 1997 1997
Bangladesh 5,096 7,677 -91 1,770 -902 1,581
India 44,102 59,236 -2,507 11,830 -5,811 24,688
Nepal 1,295 1,855 5 95 -460 626Pakistan 9,956 14,677 -2,167 3,213 -3,675 1,195
Sri Lanka 5,514 6,569 -165 831 -388 2,024
South Asia Total 
c65,963 90,014 .. 17,739 .. 30,114
Source:  Based on the World Bank, World Development Indicators, 1999.
a Net income refers to employee compensation paid to non-resident workers and investment income.
b Net current transfers are recorded in the balance-of-payments whenever an economy provides or receives goods, services,
income or financial items without a quid pro quo .
c South Asia Total does not include Afghanistan, Bhutan and Maldives.
IV. STATE OF THE ECONOMY
9. Over the last five years, Bangladesh has registered an average annual growth rate of about
5%, and she feels confident that she may achieve around 6-7% growth over the next 2 to 3 years.
According to a recent ESCAP study, Bangladesh GDP posted a growth of 6% in 1996, a jump of
almost one percentage point over the figure for 1995, which was 5.1.  The same study has forecast an
average growth rate of 7% a year over the period 1996-2000.
V. POVERTY ALLEVIATION
10. The present democratic Government is fully committed to alleviation of poverty, which is the
number one problem of our economy.  We believe, this is possible through increase in the growth of
the economy and bringing an ever larger number of people into the mainstream of economic work.
But, it is also necessary to target special income -generating programmes to the poorer sector of the
population.  The micro-finance programme in asso ciation with other socio-economic empowerment
and awareness raising activities conducted by NGOs, civil society groups and Government's ownactivities have strengthened the mainstream poverty alleviation programmes in the country.
According to a study by the Bangladesh Bureau of  Statistics (BBS) the number of people below the
accepted poverty line in the rural and urban areas of the country in April 1998 stands at 44.30% and
45.60% respectively.
VI. AN EXPORT LED STRATEGY OF GROWTH
11. The Government is making concerted efforts to reduce its trade deficit by adopting
substantive measures to boost its exports.  Salient features of these measures are:
• duty on import of machinery for export-oriented industries has been reduced ;
• import of raw materials used mainly for exports are being zero-rated.  In the Export
Processing Zone such remissions are a contractual obligation;WT/BOP/G/10
Page 5
• to facilitate exports from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), it had been decided
to channel export credit to small- and medium-scale exporting firms, on a preferentialbasis;
• to encourage exports of non-traditional items, the Government proposes to extend
support through introduction of simplified customs procedures and lowering oftransaction cost of exports by upgrading the transport and communications
infrastructure;
• relevant agencies are accelerating their efforts to put in place a system of
accreditation and certification of quality standards so that more companies couldobtain ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 certification.WT/BOP/G/10
Page 6
Annex 1
Table AIII.3:  Banned list items under Import Policy Order 1997-2002
HS heading
numberHS code No.
(ITC No.)Description of items Reason for control
01.03 All HS codes Live swine. Health grounds
01.05 All HS codes Chicks except "parent stock" and "grandparent stock". Trade reasons
02.09 0209.00 All items. Social and religious grounds
03.02 0302.70 Eggs of shrimps and prawns. Non-trade reasons
03.06 0306.23 Larva of shrimps and prawns. Non-trade reasons
04.07 0407.00 Eggs except "hatching eggs". Trade reasons
05.02 All HS codes All items. Social and religious grounds
05.11 0511.10 Deep frozen semen of oxen, except deep frozen semen of Frisian;
Frisian Cross;  Shahiwal;  Shahiwal Cross;  A.F.S.;  A.F.S.  Cross
variety domestic cows.Health grounds
12.07 All HS codes Poppy seeds and "dried Postadana" ("Postadana" shall not also be
importable as spices or in any other way).Social and health grounds
12.11 All HS codes Ghas (Andropogen SPP) and Bhan (Channabis Sativa). Social and health grounds
13.02 All HS codes Opium. Social and health grounds
14.04 1404.901 Tendu leaves (Biri leaves). Trade reasons
15.01 1501.00 All items including lard. Social and religious grounds
15.03 1503.001
1503.009All items including lard stearin except "inedible tallow and RBD
palm stearin".Social and religious grounds
22.07 All HS codes All items except "Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) analar grade
(undenatured)".Social and religious grounds
23.07 2307.00 All items. Social and religious grounds
27.11 All HS codes Petroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons. Trade reasons
27.13 All HS codes All items including petroleum coke, petroleum bitumin and
petroleum oil residues.Trade reasons
29.30 2930.909 Allyl isothlicynnate (artificial mustard oil). Health grounds
31.03 3103.10 Coloured and granular s.s.p.i.e. any kind of coloured S.S.P. and
all types of granular S.S.P. fertilizer.Non-trade reasons
38.08 All HS codes Insecticides namely Heptachlore-40WP, DDT;  Bidrin Brand in
the generic name:  Dictrotepes;  Methyle Bromide;  Synthetic
pyrithroid;  Chlorden-40 WP and Daildrin.Non-trade reasons
48.19 All HS codes All cartons except (1) outer carton;  system which is used in State
Express 555 cigarette;  and (2) all types of carton except
laminated inner carton used for export of all frozen food including
shrimps.Trade reasons
50.07 All HS codes Woven fabrics of silk or of silk waste. Trade reasons
51.02 to 51.05
and 51.08,
51.09All HS codes Hair of swine and yarn made thereof. Social and religious grounds
52.08 to 52.12 All HS codes All items except items mentioned below:
(i) long cloth (white only) up to 33s counts and width up to 
36";
(ii) poplin including shirting white, dyed, printed, striped and 
checks up to 40s counts and width up to 36";
(iii) cambric including shirting white, dyed, printed, striped and
checks up to 40s counts and width up to 36";
(iv) serge and gabardine of width up to 45" of all constructions;
(v) twill and corduroy of width up to 45" of all constructions;
(vi) mull, organdi, lawn, voil white, dyed or printed up to 65s 
counts and width 35";
(vii) flannel white, dyed and printed up to 45" width;
(viii) cotton synthetic blended suiting of all constructions up to 
60" width;
(ix) cotton synthetic blended shirting white, dyed and printed 
up to 45" width;  andTrade reasonsWT/BOP/G/10
Page 7
HS heading
numberHS code No.
(ITC No.)Description of items Reason for control
(x) umbrella cloth.
54.07 and
54.08All HS codes (i) shirting and suiting of 85% or more by weight of synthetic 
or manmade fibre (synthetic, regenerated or blended yarn 
of both) and similar fabrics in any form, including fents 
screen printing machine/table and saree fabrics of 85% or 
more by weight, of synthetic of manmade fibre (synthetic, regenerated or blended yarn of both) in piece of 5 ½ yards 
of 6 yards not in than or roll;
(ii) fents, cut pieces, fabrics cut into sizes of piece goods;  and(iii) cotton synthetic blended suiting of all constructions above
60" width.Trade reasons
55.12 to 55.16 All HS codes The following except polyester shear of mesh 80-150 required for
screen printing machine/table:(i) shirting and suiting of 85% or more by weight of synthetic 
or manmade fibre (synthetic, regenerated or blended yarn 
of both) and similar fabrics in any form;
(ii) fents, cut pieces, fabrics cut into sizes and piece goods;
(iii) cotton and synthetic blended suiting white, dyed, printed 
above 45" width;  and
(iv) cotton synthetic blended suiting of all constructions above 
60" width.Trade reasons
56.07 5607.41 to
5607.90Ropes made of nylon and polythene except nylon cord for V-belt. Trade reasons
56.08 All HS codes Fishing nets (Gillnet) with meshes of 4.5 centimetre or less in
width or length.Non-trade reasons
60.01-60.02 All HS codes All items except knit fabrics, mesh fabrics, pocketing cloth,
ribbing materials, nylon shirting and knit fabric brassiere pad.Trade reasons
87.11 All HS codes All types of second-hand motor cycle of more than 3 years old. Non-trade reasons
89.06 All HS codes Second-hand ships of more than 15 years old except warships of
all kinds (both new and second-hand).Security reasons
90.28 9028.30 Single phase electric meter (in completely built up condition). Trade reasons
The following goods shall not be importable: Multiple HS headings
(1) maps, charts and geographical globes which indicate the
territory of Bangladesh but do not do so in accordance with
the maps published by the Department of Survey, Government
of the People's Republic of Bangladesh;
(2) horror comics, obscene and subversive literature including
such pamphlets, posters, newspapers, periodicals,
photographs, films, gramophone records, and audio and video
cassette tapes, etc.;
(3) books, newspapers, periodicals, documents;  and other papers,
posters, photographs, films, gramophone records, audio and
video cassette tapes, etc. containing matters likely to outrage
the religious feelings and beliefs of any class of the citizens of
Bangladesh;
(4) unless otherwise specified in the IPO, old, second-hand and
reconditioned goods, factory reject and goods of job-lot stock-
lot of secondary/sub-standard quality;
(5) reconditioned office equipment, photocopier, typewriter
machine, telex, phone, computer, fax;
(6) unless or otherwise specified in the IPO, all kinds of waste;
(7) goods (including their containers) bearing any words or
inscriptions of a religious connotation the use or disposal of
which may injure the religious feelings and beliefs of any class
of the citizens of Bangladesh;  and
(8) goods (including their containers) bearing any obscene picture,
writing inscription or visible representation.
Source: Import Policy Order 1997-2002.WT/BOP/G/10
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Annex 2
Table AIII.4:  Restricted list items under Import Policy Order 1997-2002
HS heading
numberHS code No.
(ITC No.)Description of
itemsCondition of import Reason for control
01.05 All HS codes Chicks Only "parent stock" and "grandparent
stock's" day-old chicks shall beimportable and a certificate issued by
the authorized officer of the Livestock
Department of the exporting country, tothe effect that the importable day-old
chicks are free from contagious disease,
shall be obtained.  Besides, importermust show to the bank, at the time of
L/C opening, certificate from an
authorized officer of the LivestockDirectorate that he has either hatchery
or breeder firm.Health grounds
02.03 All HS codes All items Importable only by foreign exchange
earning hotels as per conditions in theIPO.Social and religious grounds
02.06 All HS codes All items Importable only by foreign exchange
earning hotels as per conditions in theIPO.Social and religious grounds
04.02 All HS codes Milk food Importable subject to fulfilment of
conditions in the IPO.Health grounds
04.07 0407.00 Egg "Hatching eggs" shall be importable.
For import of "Hatching eggs" the
importer shall obtain a certificate from
the concerned Government Departmentof the exporting country to the effect
that the eggs are suitable for hatching
and a certificate from the director,Livestock Department of Bangladesh to
the effect that the importer requires toimport such quantity of hatching eggs.Trade reasons
05.11 0511.10 Deep frozen
semen of oxenDeep-frozen semen of Frisian, Frisian
Cross, Shahiwal, Shahiwal Cross,
Frisian Shahiwal Cross, A.F.S., A.F.S.
Cross variety domestic cows shall beimportable.  A certificate shall be
obtained from the authorized officer of
the Livestock Department of theexporting country regarding the variety
of semen and to the effect that it is free
from any contagious and venerealdisease.Health grounds
07.01 0701.10 Potato seeds Potato seeds shall be importable subject
to the following conditions:
(a) the importer shall submit, along
with import documents a quarantine
certificate furnished by the original
supplier and a phytosanitarycertificate, along with export
documents from the Government
agency of the seed exporting
country;
(b) a quarantine certificate shall also be
obtained from the Plant ProtectionAuthority before clearing imported
potato seeds, from the Customs
Authority.Non-trade reasons
13.02 All HS codes All items All items except opium, agar agar and
pectin are importable with prior
clearance from the Director Drugs
Administration.Social and health groundsWT/BOP/G/10
Page 9
HS heading
numberHS code No.
(ITC No.)Description of
itemsCondition of import Reason for control
15.11 All HS codes Refined palm
olein(a) Import of refined palm olein shall
be subject to production of separatecertificate from the Health
Authority and the Chamber of
Commerce and Industry of theexporting country to the effect that
the consignment of the palm olein isfit for human consumption (edible)
These certificates shall be submitted
to the Customs Authority at thetime of Clearance of consignments;
(b) The following items shall not be
permissible for import as edible oil:
- solid or semi-solid palm oil which
looks like vegetable ghee;
- refined, bleached and deorized
(RBD) palm stearin;
- crude palm stearin;  and refined
and crude palm oil but office of theChief Controller of Import and
Export will give permission on case
to case basis only to the edible oilproducing industries which have
fractionation plants to import
refined and crude palm oil on thebasis of the recommendation of the
Board of Investment.  The Board of
Investment will monitor the matter.Health grounds
15.13 All HS codes Coconut oil Coconut oil shall be importable, by the
recognized industrial units, of hair oil
up to acid value 0.5 and the soap
industry up to acid value 10.0.  It shall
be also importable for commercialpurpose, and in this case acid value will
not exceed 0.5.Health grounds
16.01 1601.00 Sausages of meat
of swineImportable only by foreign exchange
earning hotels as per conditions in the
IPO.Religious and social grounds
17.01 All HS codes (a) Raw sugar
(white crystal
sugar or
refinedcrystal sugar
with
polarizationnot less than
99.7 in either
case)unrefined
sugar/Gur(a) Import of sugar is normally banned.
However, limited quantity of sugar
shall be imported in the specific
procedure on fulfilment of thecondition prescribed by the
Government;Trade reasons
(b) Other sugars
(beat sugars
and cane
sugar in solid
form)(b) Importable only by the recognized
pharmaceutical units in limited
quantity on specific
recommendation of the Director-Drug Administration and with prior
permission from the ChiefController;
(c) Sucrose,
chemically
pure sugarand refined
sugarImported by recognized industries as
raw materials according to the
approved block-list of the DrugAdministration and prescribed
specification.
19.01 All HS codes Baby food (with
cream)Importable, subject to fulfilment of
conditions in the IPO.Health groundsWT/BOP/G/10
Page 10
HS heading
numberHS code No.
(ITC No.)Description of
itemsCondition of import Reason for control
22.03 to
22.06All HS codes All items Beer and wine of all categories shall be
importable only by foreign exchangeearning hotels as per conditions.  In
special cases, such items may be
imported with approval of Ministry ofCommerce and prior permission from
chief Controller subject to specified
conditions.  However, in all cases,concerned importer shall firstly obtain
licence (permission from the Director-
General, Narcotics ControlDepartment.  The conditions mentioned
above shall be equally applicable for
import of alcoholic and non-alcoholic
beer.Religious and social grounds
22.07 All HS codes All items Only "ethanol (ethyl alcohol) analar
grade (undenatured)" is importable by
recognized pharmaceutical units with
clearance from the Director, DrugsAdministration and subject to
prescribed conditions.Religious and social grounds
22.08 All HS codes All items Importable only by foreign exchange
earning hotels as per conditions.Religious and social grounds
25.01 All HS codes (a) Common salt
except table
salt(a) Importable subject to conditions
prescribed by the government as
and when required.Trade reasons
(b) Table salt (b) Importable only by the foreign
exchange earning hotels subject to
prescribed conditions.
25.03 All HS codes Sulphur Importable subject to prescribed
conditions for import of explosives.Security reasons
25.23 All HS codes Cement In the case of import of cement in
private sector proportional standard ofcement must be 232:1993 (specified by
BSTI).  Besides, as BSTI specification,
standard of portland polarized fuel ashcement should be as BDS 1557:1997
and standard of portland blast furnace
slag cement should be as BDS1958:1997.  In all cases, a pre-shipment
inspection certificate shall be obtained
from an internationally reputedsurveyor to the effect that declared
quantity, weight and proportional
standard of cement are as per specifiedstandard and in all cases name of the
cement must be mentioned on each bag
of cement.Social grounds
27.01 and
27.04All HS codes Coal/hard coke In case of import of coal and hard coke
in both private and public sector, a pre-
shipment inspection certificate shall beobtained from an internationally
reputed surveyor to the effect that the
quantity, weight and quality (standard)
of the item are found as declared.Social grounds
27.05 Gas in cylinder Importable only with the clearance
certificate from the Chief Inspector of
Explosives.Non-trade reasons
27.09 (a) Petroleum oil
and all kinds
of oilobtained from
bituminous(a) Importable by Bangladesh
Petroleum Corporation.  However,
in private sector, it is importablewith the approval of the Ministry of
Power, Energy and MineralNon-trade reasonsWT/BOP/G/10
Page 11
HS heading
numberHS code No.
(ITC No.)Description of
itemsCondition of import Reason for control
mineral crude
and LPGResources and prior permission
from the Ministry of Commerce.
(b) Ethylene
oxide gas(b) Importable by recognized industries
as raw materials according to the
approved block-list of Drug
Administration and prescribed
specification.
27.10 All HS codes All petroleum
products except
liquid paraffinImportable only by Bangladesh
Petroleum Corporation.  However,
electric transformer manufacturing
units shall be allowed to importtransformer oil only as raw materials up
to the required quantity for their own
use subject to the clearance fromBangladesh Petroleum Corporation and
by fulfilling other conditions imposed
by that Corporation.Security reasons
28.02 2802.00 Sulphur Importable subject to prescribed
conditions for import of explosives in
Import Policy Order 1997-2002.Security reasons
28.04 2804.70 Phosphorus Importable subject to prescribed
conditions for import of explosives in
Import Policy Order 1997-2002.Security reasons
28.29 2829.19 Potassium
chlorateImportable subject to prescribed
conditions for import of explosives in
Import Policy Order 1997-2002.Security reasons
28.34 2834.21 (a) Potassium
nitrate(a) Importable subject to prescribed
conditions for import of explosives.Security reasons
2834.299 (b) Barium
nitrate(b) Importable subject to prescribed
conditions for import of explosives.Security reasons
2834.299 (c) Thorium
nitrate(c) Importable only with prior
permission from the Bangladesh
Atomic Energy Commission.Security reasons
28.44 to
28.46All HS codes All items
including radio-active chemicals
element andisotopesImportable only with prior permission
from Bangladesh Atomic Energy
Commission.Security reasons
29.04 All HS codes Trinitrotoluene
(TNT)Importable subject to prescribed
conditions for import of explosives.Security reasons
29.35 2935.00 Sulphonamides Importable only with clearance from
the Director, Drugs Administration and
subject to prescribed conditions.Health grounds
29.36 All HS codes All items Importable by drug importers and drug
manufacturing industries only with
clearance from the Director, Drugs
Administration and subject toprescribed conditions.  However,
Vitamin A and D (food grade) is freelyimportable by other importers.Health grounds
29.37 to
29.39All HS codes All items Importable with clearance from the
Director, Drugs Administration andsubject to prescribed conditions.Health grounds
29.41 All HS codes Antibiotics Importable with clearance from the
Director, Drugs Administration andsubject to prescribed conditions.Health grounds
30.01 All HS codes All items Importable with clearance from the
Director, Drugs Administration and
subject to prescribed conditions.Health grounds
30.02 All HS codes All items
including "live
vaccines"Importable with clearance from the
Director, Drugs Administration and
subject to prescribed conditions.Health groundsWT/BOP/G/10
Page 12
HS heading
numberHS code No.
(ITC No.)Description of
itemsCondition of import Reason for control
30.03 and
30.04All HS codes All items Importable with clearance from the
Director, Drugs Administration and
subject to prescribed conditions.Health grounds
31.02 to
31.04All HS codes Chemical
fertilizer(1) A list certified by the manufacturer
of ingredients of the imported
fertilizer shall be submitted alongwith the shipping documents;Non-trade reasons
(2) A pre-shipment certificate from an
internationally recognized
inspection company shall besubmitted with the shipping
documents and the specification of
the imported fertilizer mentioned inthat certificate must be coincided
with the specification approved by
the Ministry of Agriculture.Fertilizer shall be importable only
from the manufacturer or from hisrepresentative;
(3) Specification as well as information
regarding physical and chemical
properties of the imported fertilizershall be furnished in the invoice of
the shipping documents.  Mentioned
specification and properties mustcoincide with those approved by the
Ministry of Agriculture;
(4) Other information according to the
international rules shall be
furnished in the Bill of Lading;
(5) By fulfiling above-mentioned
conditions, imported fertilizer can
be released without post-landinginspection but on condition that
both the supplier and importer will
be combinedly responsible fordetection of harmful material in any
later examination.
35.07 All HS codes Enzymes For import by pharmaceutical
industries clearance from Director,
Drugs Administration is required
subject to prescribed conditions.However, "enzymes (foodgrade)" are
freely importable.Health grounds
36.01 to
36.04All HS codes All items
including
explosivesImportable only with clearance from
the concerned Ministry and subject to
prescribed conditions.Security reasons
37.06 All HS codes Cinematograph
film exposed and
developed
whether or notincorporating
sound track(a) Cinematograph film (exposed) in
English language without sub-title
and in other languages (except sub-
continental languages) with sub-titlein Bangla or in English shall be
permissible for import;Social groundsWT/BOP/G/10
Page 13
HS heading
numberHS code No.
(ITC No.)Description of
itemsCondition of import Reason for control
(b) Import of film in sub-continental
languages with or without sub-titleshall not be permissible.  However,
import or export permit, as
considered necessary, may beissued on the basis of specific
recommendation of the Film
Development Corporation forimport or export of the
print/negative of such
cinematographic film produced as a
joint venture;
(c) Import of all cinematograph films
shall be subject to censorship rule
codes.
38.08 All HS codes All items except
items mentioned
in the BannedList(a) Importable subject to the prescribed
conditions;Non-trade reasons
(b) Dettramethrine of synthetic
pyrithroid group shall be importable
with the prior permission of theMinistry of Commerce but only by
those firms who will be certified
and guaranteed by the Ministry ofHealth that the item will be used
only for public health purpose.
52.08 to52.12All HS codes (i) Grey cloth,
all sorts(i) Importable subject to prescribed
conditions;Trade reasons
(ii) Indigo denim
(jeans fabrics)
100% cotton
fabrics above36" width (in
thaan  or rolls)
not in cutpieces or cut
in to size(ii) Importable against back to back L/C
by export oriented readymade
garment units operating under
bonded warehouse system;
(iii) Combat
cloth;  and(iii) Importable only by the Defence
Services;
(iv) Drill and
cellular dyedincluding
mineral khaki(iv) Importable by public sector
agencies only on the basis ofrecommendation of Ministry of
Textiles.
55.12 to55.16All HS codes (i) Grey cloth,
all sorts(i) Importable subject to prescribed
conditions.Trade reasons
(ii) Combat cloth (ii) Importable only by the Defence
Services.
56.08 All HS codes Fishing nets With the prior permission from the
Director General of Fisheries
Department only deep-sea fishingvessels shall be allowed to import nets
with meshes of 4, 5 cm or above under
Sea Fish Ordinance, 1983.  DirectorGeneral Fisheries Department shall
give permission for an importer per
trawler to import 4, 5 cmradius/mesh-net up to maximum 8
bag/sack per year.Non-trade reasons
60.01 and
60.02All HS codes Knit fabrics,
mesh fabricspocketing cloth,
ribbing materialsImportable against back to back L/C
only by the export-oriented ReadymadeGarments Industry operating under
bonded warehouse system.Trade reasonsWT/BOP/G/10
Page 14
HS heading
numberHS code No.
(ITC No.)Description of
itemsCondition of import Reason for control
and nylon satin
63.09 All HS codes Second-hand
clothingImportable subject to prescribed
conditions and procedure.Social and health grounds
72.07 All HS codes M.S. Billets Recognized industrial units shall import
only prime qualities M.S. billets
irrespective of the source of finance.
Import of M.S. billets shall be subject
to preshipment inspection by aninternationally reputed surveyor.
Necessary certificate regarding
preshipment inspection shall beproduced to the Customs Authority at
the time.Social grounds
72.10 All HS codes C.I. sheet C.I. sheet of 0.457 mm or more
thickness containing zinc coating of
381.45 g or more per square meter, will
be freely importable.  Besides, C.I.sheet coloured or non-coloured, of
0.35 mm or more thickness containing
coating of alloy of zinc aluminium etc.of 150 g or more per square meter shall
be importable.Social grounds
84.01 All HS codes Nuclear reactors
and its partsImportable by the Bangladesh Atomic
Energy Commission only with the
clearance of sponsoring Ministry.Security reasons
84.02 and
84.04All HS codes Boiler Importable with the certificate from
internationally recognized and also
Government approved preshipment
inspection agent.Security reasons
84.07 and
84.08All HS codes Second-hand
engines and gearboxes(a) Commercial import of second-
hand/reconditioned engines and
gearboxes of bus, truck, mini-busand microbus will be permissible.
But such engines and gearboxes
shall not be permissible for importif they are more than five years old.
In this case a certificate regarding
age-limit, either from exportingcountry's recognized Chamber of
Commerce and Industry or from an
internationally reputed surveyorshall be submitted to the Customs
Authority at the time or release ofthe goods;
(b) Second-hand/reconditioned marine
diesel engines above 35 horsepower
used in coasters, launches and selfpropelled barges and other
watercrafts of this type will becommercially importable.Security reasons
84.23 All HS codes Weighing
machinesOnly weighing machines based on the
metric system (in built-up or knocked
All HS Codeswn condition) and itsspares, metric system weights and
measures shall be importable.Social grounds
85.25 All HS codes Radio
transmitters andtransceiver
wireless
equipment,walkie-talkie and
other radio
broadcastreceivers
includingImportable by Radio Bangladesh and
Bangladesh Television with clearancefrom the sponsoring Ministry.  Also
importable by other Government, semi-
government and autonomous agencieson the basis of clearance from the
concerned administrative Ministry and
NOC from the Ministry of Posts andTelecommunications.
Telecommunications equipment is alsoSecurity reasonsWT/BOP/G/10
Page 15
HS heading
numberHS code No.
(ITC No.)Description of
itemsCondition of import Reason for control
receivers
incorporating
sound recorders,
or reproducersimportable in the private sector on the
basis of NOC from the Ministry of
Posts and Telecommunications.
85.26 All HS codes Radio
navigational aid
apparatus, radar
apparatus andradio remote
control apparatusImportable by user agencies with
clearance from the sponsoring from the
sponsoring Ministry.Security reasons
87.01 to
87.04All HS codes All types to
motor vehicles
and trucks(a) Manufacturing age of the used
reconditioned vehicles must not be
more than five-years at the time of
shipment.  The five years time willbe calculated from the first day of
the next calendar year of
manufacturing of the vehicles.  Inthe case of determining the date/age
of the concerned vehicles, the age
of the vehicle shall start countingfrom the first day of the next year of
manufacture.  In the case of vehicle
import from Japan, the date ofmanufacture shall be determined
from the chasis book, published by
the Japan Automobile Association.In the case of import of vehicles
from those countries where chasis
book is not published, importershall submit a certificate regarding
the date of manufacture of vehicle
from an internationally repute
surveyor firm.Health and environmental grounds
87.10 All HS codes All items
including tanksand armoured
fighting vehiclesImportable only by the Ministry of
Defence.Security reasons
87.11 All HS codes Less than 3 years
old types of
motorcycle(a) This 3-years period will be
calculated from the first day of the
next calendar year of the
manufacturing year.  To determinethe age of old motorcycles,
certificate from internationally
recognized and NBR approvedinspection company may be
accepted as the alternative ofregistration cancellation certificate.Non-trade reasons
89.01 and
89.2All HS codes Sea-going ships,
oil tankers andfishing trawlersShips, oil tankers and fishing trawlers
or more than 20 years old shall not beimportable.Security reasons
89.06 All HS codes Warships of all
kinds (both new
and second hand)Importable only by the Ministry of
Defence.Security reasons
90.16 All HS codes Weights and
measuresOnly metric system weight and
measures and measuring instruments
shall be importable.Social grounds
90.28 9028.90 Parts and
components of
electric meterand parts and
components of
single phaseelectric meter in
CKD SKDImportable only by the recognized
electric meter manufacturing industrial
units as per their entitlement for the
items.Trade reasonsWT/BOP/G/10
Page 16
HS heading
numberHS code No.
(ITC No.)Description of
itemsCondition of import Reason for control
condition
93.01 9301.00 All items
including
military weaponsImportable only by the Ministry of
Defence.Security reasons
93.02 All HS codes All items
including
revolvers and
pistolsImportable by the dealers of firearms
with the approval of Ministry of Home.
Also importable as passengers baggage
by a person holding valid firearmslicence and priori permission from the
Ministry of Commerce.  Any person or
private sector can import by TCB.Security reasons
93.03 to
93.05All HS codes All items
including fire-
arms (excluding
prohibited bores)Importable by the dealers of firearms
with the approval of Ministry of Home.
Also importable as passenger baggageby a person holding valid firearms
licence and priori permission from the
Ministry of Commerce.  Any person or
private sector can import by TCB.Security reasons
93.06 All HS codes (a)Ammunitions
for sports,
hunting, etc.(a) Importable by the dealers of
firearms with the approval ofMinistry of Home.  Also importable
as passengers baggage by a person
holding valid firearms licence andpriori permission from the Ministry
of Commerce.  Any person or
private sector can import by TCB.Security reasons
(b) Others (b) Importable only by the Ministry of
Defence.Security reasons
93.07 All HS codes All items
including swords
and bayonetsImportable only by user agencies with
clearance from the
sponsoring/administrative Ministry.Security reasons
Multiple HS headings Animals, plants
and plants
productsQuarantine conditions shall be
applicable...
Multiple HS headings Second-
hand/recondition
ed machineriesSecond-hand/reconditioned machinery
used in industry, shall be importable
without any price limit.  However, a
certificate from an establishedinternationally reputed surveyor to the
effect that each machine has at least
10 years economic life, must be
submitted along with bill of lading...
Multiple HS headings Tyre cord fabric
(secondary
quality)Tyre cord fabric of secondary quality
fit for making fishing nets shall be
freely importable on commercial basis...
Multiple HS headings Food and
beverageIn case of imports of all kinds of food
and beverages the date of manufacture
and the date of expiry shall be clearlymentioned on each package/container
of such items.  However, it shall not be
necessary to mention the date of expiry
in case of import of wine/liquor...
Multiple HS headings Pesticides and
insecticidesIn case of import of pesticides and
insecticides conditions mentioned atparagraph 26(5) of this Order shall be
complied with.  Moreover, pesticides
will be determined as per the PesticidesOrdinance, 1971 (Ordinance No. 11 of
1971)...
.. Not available.
Source: Import Policy Order 1997-2002.
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