Bangladesh Bank Scraps Old Import FX Rules in One-year Reset

Bangladesh Bank has issued a single consolidated circular that brings together the latest foreign exchange regulations governing import transactions. The document combines all foreign exchange rules related to imports issued over the past year, giving importers and banks one reference point instead of a patchwork of separate instructions.

The circular, FEPD-1 Circular No. 30, titled “Consolidated circular on foreign exchange regulations - import transactions,” was issued by the central bank's Foreign Exchange Policy Department-1 on 13 August 2026. An English version has been published on Bangladesh Bank's website for download.

Contents

01

What the new framework replaces

02

What the Circular Covers

03

Why the Consolidation Matters

What the new framework replaces

The consolidated circular will remain in force for one year from Thursday, 13 August 2026. At the same time, all previous instructions related to imports will be scrapped, according to the central bank. Only the reporting formats will remain unchanged, meaning businesses can keep using the same reporting templates while the underlying rules are consolidated.

What the Circular Covers

The new framework includes provisions on import trade, online reporting, letters of credit, permitted payment methods, advance remittances, submission of bills of entry, supplier's and buyer's credit, settlement of import liabilities and back-to-back letters of credit.

It also incorporates regulations covering alternative trade financing arrangements, digital processing of import documents, retention of export proceeds in foreign currency for import payments, inland letters of credit in foreign currency, specialised and export processing zones, and the import of gold, silver, jewellery and foreign currency notes.

Why the Consolidation Matters

By folding a year's worth of import-related foreign exchange rules into one document, Bangladesh Bank aims to make compliance simpler for importers and banks. The one-year validity period signals that the central bank intends to keep the framework current, with the consolidated circular serving as the single governing reference for import transactions until its next review.

Here is the circular link-https://www.bb.org.bd/mediaroom/circulars/fepd/aug132026fepd-130e.pdf