Introducing Bangladesh

Bangladesh is the 55th largest export economy in the world. In 2015, Bangladesh exported $35.7B and imported $38.3B, resulting in a negative trade balance of $2.6B. In 2015 the GDP of Bangladesh was $195B and its GDP per capita was $3.34k.

The top exports of Bangladesh are Non-Knit Men’s Suits ($5.6B), Knit T-shirts ($5.28B), Knit Sweaters ($4.12B), Non-Knit Women’s Suits ($3.66B) and Non-Knit Men’s Shirts ($2.52B), using the 1992 revision of the HS (Harmonized System) classification. Its top imports are Heavy Pure Woven Cotton ($1.33B), Refined Petroleum ($1.25B), Light Pure Woven Cotton($1.12B), Raw Cotton ($1.01B) and Wheat ($900M).

The top export destinations of Bangladesh are the United States ($6.19B), Germany ($5.17B), the United Kingdom ($3.53B), France ($2.37B) and Spain($2.29B). The top import origins are China ($13.9B), India ($5.51B), Singapore ($2.22B), Hong Kong ($1.47B) and Japan ($1.36B).

Bangladesh borders India and Burma.

Bangladesh shipped US$38.6 billion worth of goods around the globe in 2016, up by 148.1% since 2009 when the Great Recession kicked in and up by 4.5% from 2015 to 2016.

Bangladesh’s top 10 exports are highly concentrated accounting for 96.9% of the overall value of its global shipments.

Based on statistics from the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook Database, Bangladesh’s total Gross Domestic Product amounted to $686.8 billion as of April 2017. Therefore, exports represent about 5.6% of total Bangladeshi economic output.

Given Bangladesh’s population of 156.2 million people, its total $38.6 billion in 2016 exports translates to roughly $250 for every resident in that country.

Bangladesh’s unemployment rate was an estimated 4.9% in 2016 same as during 2016, according to the Central Intelligence Agency’s World Factbook.

Bangladesh’s Top 10 Exports

Shipping & Logistics fee/Charges

Fees / Charges

There are various types of fees and charges that relate to trade (both import and export) activities. However, such fees and charges are not imposed or collected by a single agency (e.g. Customs), as these fall under the jurisdiction of different border agencies / GoB agencies involved in trade related activities.

Fees and Charges by Customs:

Various fees and charges imposed by Customs on or in connection with importation or exportation include -

a)      Document processing fee (for automated Customs assessment),

b)      PSI services charge (in case of goods imported under Pre-shipment Inspection System): It is imposed under Section 25C of the Customs Act, 1969. The rate for such charge is 1% of the value of goods. 

c)      Merchant overtime charge (in case of overtime duties by Customs officials),

d)      Container scanning charge,

e)      Transshipment fees: It is imposed under Section 125 of the Customs Act, 1969,

f)      Customs fee on transhipment under Inland Waterways Protocol between India and Bangladesh (To download the order containing fee info, click here)

g)      Fees for supplying copy of document: It is imposed under Section 204 of the Customs Act, 1969

h)      Fees for supplying Customs information: It is imposed under Section 204A of the Customs Act, 1969

i)      Fees for amendment of documents: It is imposed under Section 205 of the Customs Act, 1969

j)      Fees for amendment of errors, etc.: It is imposed under Section 206 of the Customs Act, 1969

Fees and Charges by port operators:

There are different port operators working at airports, sea ports and land ports. Biman Bangladesh Airlines manages/handles the airport cargo operations while Bangladesh Land Port Authority handles goods movement at the land ports throughout the country. The cargo operations at Chittagong and Mongla sea ports are handled by Chittagong Port Authority and Mongla Port Authority respectively.

Types of fees and charges imposed and collected by various government agencies on import, export and trnsport are highlighted below. 

Fees and Charges by CCI&E:

The Office of the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports (CCI&E) issues registration certificates to importers, exporters and indentors, export permits, export-cum-import permits, import permits on returnable basis, import permits and clearance permits and so forth.

Importers, exporters and indentors are subject to initial registration fee and renewal fees for permits. They are also required to pay surcharge for failing to pay renewal fees within the time limit. Importers are classified into six categories on the basis of overall annual import for the purpose of registration and renewal fee. All Exporters and Indentors are to pay same fees without any categorization.

For details on various charges/fees collected by CCI&E, consult Chapter three of Import Policy Order, 2015-2018, and visit www.mincom.gov.bd.

Fees and Charges by Drugs

The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare administers the import of drugs and raw materials and API (Active Pharmaceuticals Ingredients) for drugs. The DGDA imposes and collects fees and charges for such regulatory services. For example, a fee of Tk. 550 is required with the application for approval of Block List.

For detailed on fees/chargescollected by the DGDA, visit the DGDA website (www.dgda.gov.bd).

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has published new fees for regulatory services of the DGDA in May 2013 (www.dgda.gov.bd ).

Fees and Charges by BSTI

Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has set mandatory certification marking for 55 items at import stage (Paragraph 26 (28) of the Import Policy Order, 2015-2018). Importers need to submit certificate from the BSTI to the Customs Authority to clear these products from Customs, if their consignments do not have certificates from accredited laboratories from the exporting countries.

For detailed information on certification fees collected by the BSTI, please visit BSTI website (www.bsti.gov.bd). For comprehensive information on BSTI certification fees (for Imported Products brought under mandatory certification before Customs clearance), the following Regulation may be collected from the BSTI office:

BSTI Regulation 1989 and Amendment SRO- 230-Law/2009 dated 12 October, 2009.

Fees and Charges by  Plant Quarantine Wing

The Government from time to time, determine fees and charges for inspection, examination or treatment of plants or plant products, beneficial organisms or packing materials and may also determine the procedure of collecting such fees and charges. The Plant Quarantine Wing of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) under the Ministry of Agriculture collects such fees/charges.

For information on such charges/fees, visit the DAE website (www.dae.gov.bd ).

Fees and Charges by Atomic Energy Commission

Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission ensures that the relevant imported goods (food for human consumption) are within the acceptable limits of radioactivity through conducting radiation test.

For details on radiation test charge, visit the Atomic Energy Commission website (www.baec.org.bd ).