# Proposed Import Policy May Allow Cars Older Than Five Years

> Under the draft 2025–28 import policy, goods can be imported without a letter of credit, and cars over five years old may be allowed, currently prohibited. The policy also proposes restrictions on noisy hydraulic horns,…

Published: 2026-01-13 · Desk: Latest · Source: Samakal

Under a sales contract, goods may be imported without a letter of credit (LC) or promissory note. Currently, commercial imports up to USD 500,000 can be made without an LC. According to the draft import policy (2025–28), goods for which import permission exists can be brought in without an LC, regardless of quantity. The draft policy also proposes allowing the import of cars older than five years, which is currently prohibited.

In a sales contract, all agreements are made directly with the foreign seller, but all financial transactions, including payments, are conducted through banks.

Yesterday, Sunday, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Commerce Secretariat with Trade Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin and relevant stakeholders to discuss the draft three-year import policy (2025–28). The draft includes additional changes proposed by a committee led by the Ministry of Commerce and comprising several ministries and agencies, aimed at modernizing the import policy.

After the meeting, the Trade Adviser told journalists that discussions on amending the import policy have been ongoing for about a month. These changes are intended to simplify and liberalize import procedures, reviewing processes for import transactions, product quality verification, and other conditions. Bangladesh Bank and all relevant stakeholders have been involved in the process.

He added that once the proposals are approved by the Advisory Council, full details will be announced at a press conference, possibly at the next meeting.

Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman said the new import policy includes changes across all sections. As Bangladesh is a signatory to the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, the policy aims to simplify business while maintaining international standards.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, before drafting the new import policy, feedback was collected from various chambers, business organizations, and associations. In yesterday’s meeting, the Trade Adviser and Secretary reviewed the main proposals, including adjustments in anticipation of Bangladesh’s graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) list, expected in about 10 months. The draft policy is being aligned with international trade realities in preparation for this transition.

The existing import policy (2021–24) expired in June 2024, but it remains in effect until the new policy is issued.

The draft policy proposes restrictions on hydraulic horns to control environmental and noise pollution, limiting horn noise to a maximum of 100 decibels, as recommended by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. For the first time, the draft includes the import of petrochemical raw materials such as ethylene and propylene, subject to approval from the Explosives Department and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation. Measures are also included to resolve difficulties in exporting rice and spices to Australia due to the banned chemical methyl bromide.

Other proposals include assigning separate HS codes for gas cylinders, allowing the import of old batteries under environmentally friendly recycling guidelines, and removing the requirement for BSTI certification for palm olein imports.

The draft bans all types of waste imports. Prohibited items include shrimp, live pigs and pig products, poppy seeds, opium seeds, grass, block sugar, artificial mustard oil, reconditioned office equipment, old computers and electronics, horns exceeding 75 decibels, harmful chemical pesticides, polythene and polypropylene bags, and two-stroke three-wheeler vehicles.

Conditional imports are allowed for cars older than five years, motorcycles older than three years with engine capacity above 165cc, fishing nets with mesh size under 4.5 cm, and LNG. According to reconditioned car importers, countries like the UK and Pakistan have relaxed age limits, enabling people to access vehicles at lower costs.

Original reporting: https://samakal.com/bangladesh-others/article/333468?fbclid=IwY2xjawPSvD9icmlkETFHd09rOFExakhyd1liNlZmc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHs5sl4qAEAz1iBNbAXSHMlLL18Qyf3nbdSw3mHB44CEZeHhtPzIauFcIHOZN&brid=ueb53qdSvu1_sQeBmQwfoQ
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