According to section 2 of the Dangerous Cargoes Act, 1953, dangerous goods means –
(a) any cargoes containingany goods shown as ‘Explosives’ in the Comprehensive Classified List of Government Explosives compiled and issued by the Government or by he nominated authority of the Government or any ammunitions; or
(b) petroleum, when the flashing point of such petroleum is below one hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit; or
(c) goods classified as dangerous in the Government Stowage Instructions prepared by it or by such authority as the Government may fix from time to time; or
(d) any cargoes which are liable to fire or explosion and which are declared by the Government to be dangerous cargoes.
Examples of dangerous goods include, among others, include Calcium Carbide; Sulphur; Refrigerant Gas, Fish Meal, Tetrafluoroethane, Liquefied Gas, Isobutane, Chlorodifluoromethane etc.
Usual customs procedure such as submission of goods declaration with necessary import documents to the Customs authority and release order of Customs is necessary for Dangerous Goods.
In addition to this, clearance/permission from Bangladesh Navy is necessary.Currently, Bangladesh Navy’sclearance/approval is required for 3506 dangerous goods (as per Chittagong Customs House Meeting Minutes: Letter no S-4/9/proshason/Time release study/2013-14/356 date 06 January, 2016). In order to obtain permission from Bangladesh Navy, allinbound dangerous cargo must have declaration of IMO Class and number in the cargo manifest.For all inbound Dangerous Goods, B/L and Manifest must mention Proper Shipping Name, Technical Name/Chemical Name.
Hazardous cargo under IMO Class 1 and 7 are allowed landing for direct delivery with prior permission of Bangladesh Navy and subject to the readiness of consignee for taking direct delivery. All the others hazardous cargo covered by IMO Class 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 are allowed landing with prior permission of the naval authorities. Telephone/fax and email address of the consignee/notifying party is to be mentioned in the Bill of Lading for all hazardous cargo.
Dangerous goods can be identified by reading the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IDMG) code mentioned in the Bill of Lading/Import manifest. The port authority, based on the IDMG code, determines the category of Dangerous Goods and which level of precaution will be taken for a specific Dangerous Goods.
Bangladesh Navy is the authority for inspection of Dangerous Goods,and upon satisfaction it issues the NOC. To receive approval/NOC for Dangerous Goods from Bangladesh Navy, importers will have to furnish following documents in original:
1. Bill of Lading, invoice, packing list.
2. Authorization certificate from the CCI&E.
3. Import permission of the Department of Explosives.
4. Storage and user license from DC.