Traveling to Bangladesh? Your Essential Guide to New Customs & Duty Rules

Bangladesh has officially unveiled its updated baggage rules, establishing a clearer and more unified framework for all international travelers entering the country, irrespective of their nationality. These revisions, integrated into the annual budget adjustments, are designed to simplify the process for bringing in personal effects, gifts for family, and essential household goods. Critically, the new regulations also reinforce strict guidelines on prohibited items, applicable to both accompanied baggage and cargo. The key takeaway is that the rules now apply uniformly to all passengers, including Bangladeshi expatriates, British citizens, and holders of European and American passports, with the focus solely on the type and quantity of goods.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has outlined that 19 distinct types of items can now be imported duty-free, while an additional 11 categories of goods are permitted upon the payment of specified duties and taxes. A significant procedural benefit for travelers is that there will be no requirement to open a Letter of Credit (LC) for these personal baggage items, thereby streamlining the customs clearance process considerably.

Baggage Allowances for All Passengers

For any adult passenger aged 12 years or older, a total of 65 kg of baggage can be cleared without incurring any duty or tax. For younger passengers, those under 12 years old, the duty-free allowance is set at 40 kg.

The 19 categories of items now permitted duty-free for all travelers include:

• Mobile Phones: Two used mobile phones, and importantly, one new mobile phone (this new phone allowance is limited to once per calendar year).
• Home & Office Electronics: One desktop or laptop computer, a single computer scanner, one printer, one video camera (excluding professional-grade models), one still or digital camera (excluding professional-grade models), an oven and microwave oven, a rice cooker, pressure cooker, a gas oven (including burner), a toaster, sandwich maker, blender, food processor, juicer, and coffee maker. Also included are one household sewing machine (manual or electrical), and a single table, pedestal, or ceiling fan for domestic use.
• Entertainment & Lifestyle: A carpet with a maximum area of 15 square meters, a television up to 29 inches, a music system (comprising a CD player with two speakers), and sports materials intended for personal use.
• Personal Valuables: Up to 100 grams of gold ornaments (this total weight is allowed per year, regardless of the number of entries), and one carton of cigarettes (equivalent to 200 sticks).

Dutiable Items and Key Recent Changes

Eleven specific types of goods can be imported into Bangladesh upon the payment of prescribed duties and taxes. These include:

• Gold Bars: A maximum of 117 grams (equivalent to 10 tola) of gold bar, which is subject to a duty of BDT 40,000. This allowance for gold bars is now strictly limited to once per year.
• Silver Bars: Up to 234 grams (20 tola) of silver bar.
• Larger Electronics & Appliances: Televisions 30 inches and above, home theater systems, refrigerators and deep freezers, air conditioners, professional HD cameras, and chandeliers.
• Household Appliances: Dishwashers, washing machines, or clothes dryers.
• Specialized Items: Dish antennas, and air guns (the import of which requires prior permission from the Ministry of Commerce).

The duties for these items vary widely, ranging from a minimum of BDT 300 to a maximum of BDT 90,000, depending on the item.

Important recent changes highlight the following:

• The previous allowance for duty-free gold ornaments, which permitted multiple entries with 100 grams each time, has been revised. Now, a passenger can bring a total aggregate of 100 grams of gold ornaments duty-free per year, across all entries.
• Regarding mobile phones, while two used phones remain duty-free, the allowance for one new duty-free mobile phone is now explicitly limited to once per calendar year. Any additional new mobile phones beyond this allowance will incur applicable duties and taxes as per existing regulations (Rule 10 and other relevant rules).

Prohibited and Restricted Items (In-Flight & Cargo)

It is paramount for all travelers, regardless of their passport or nationality, to be fully aware of items that are strictly prohibited or restricted when entering Bangladesh. These regulations are rigorously enforced for reasons of safety, national security, and public health, and apply to both accompanied (checked and carry-on) baggage and cargo.

Common Strictly Prohibited Items (for both accompanied baggage and cargo):

• Explosives and Incendiary Devices: Including but not limited to fireworks, flares, gunpowder, dynamite, plastic explosives, and smoke-generating canisters.
• Flammable Materials: All types of flammable liquids (such as lighter refills, paints, thinners), and highly combustible solids.
• Weapons (without proper authorization): This category broadly includes firearms of all types (pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns), realistic toy guns or replicas that could be mistaken for real weapons, ammunition, knives with blades of any length, swords, martial arts weapons, box cutters, spear guns, and other sharp tools that can be repurposed as weapons (e.g., crowbars, drills, axes, chisels, saws).
• Narcotics and Illicit Drugs: All controlled drugs and narcotics (e.g., cannabis, cocaine, heroin, LSD, opium) are strictly forbidden.
• Poisons and Infectious Substances: Such as insecticides, weed killers, and live virus materials.
• Corrosive Materials: Including acids, alkalis, mercury, and wet-cell batteries.
• Gases: Flammable, non-flammable, or poisonous gases (e.g., butane, oxygen, liquid nitrogen).
• Pornography and Sexually Explicit Material.
• Counterfeit Currency and Stamps.
• Human or Animal Remains: Including ashes and preserved body parts.
• Live Animals: Generally prohibited, with very few exceptions for specific carrier programs and strict welfare requirements.
• Radioactive Materials.
• Lithium Batteries: Spare or loose lithium batteries must always be carried in carry-on baggage. Lithium batteries over 160 Watt-hours (WH) generally require cargo transport under IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and airline approval. Devices containing spillable batteries are typically prohibited in both accompanied and cargo baggage.
• Second-hand computers/parts and reconditioned office equipment (when intended for commercial import).
• Any item claiming to be "Made in Bangladesh" if it was not actually manufactured within the country.
• Common Restricted Items (may require permits or special conditions):
• Alcohol: Limited quantities may be allowed for foreign nationals as accompanied baggage without additional levy. Commercial import is generally restricted.
• Tobacco Products: While one carton (200 cigarettes) is allowed duty-free, larger quantities may necessitate additional customs documentation and fees.
• Pharmaceutical Raw Materials: Restricted.
• Commercial Import of Food Items: Restricted.
• Pets: Restricted, often requiring specific health certificates and quarantine arrangements.
• Textiles: May require certificates of conformity for larger quantities or commercial purposes.
• Plants and Seeds: Often require phytosanitary certificates from the country of origin.
• Electrical and Electronic Devices (beyond personal allowance): May require import permits and certificates of conformity from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) for larger quantities or specific types.

Travelers are strongly advised to consult their respective airlines and the official Bangladesh Customs website for the most current and comprehensive list of prohibited and restricted items before planning their journey. Adherence to these regulations is crucial for ensuring consistency, security, and a smooth entry process at all Bangladeshi ports of entry.