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.
(a) Biman Bangladesh Airlines: Usually Biman Bangladesh Airlines charges importers and exporters for using airport warehouse facilities. In addition, Biman charges Forklift fee for goods weighing more than 100 kgs. It also charges DGR fee, an extra amount ($100) for storing of Dangerous Goods.
There are two cargo terminal buildings at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for import and export facilities of cargo: Import Terminal and Cargo Village (export). For information on fees/charges imposed by Biman for imported goods, contact Import Section, Biman Cargo Complex, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka [Telephone: +880 2 8901500-19 (import), Ext.-25].
For charges/fees on export goods, please contact Cargo village (export), Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka [Telephone: +880 2 8901500-19 (Export), Ext.-2507].
For more details, visit www.biman-airlines.com.
(b) Chittagong Port Authority (CPA): The CPA imposes and collects various fees and charges for services and facilities offered to shipping companies, importers, exporters and other stakeholders at the Chittagong sea port. Such fees and charges include - landing charge, port handling charge (for port functions), port demurrage charge (in case of non-clearance after a certain period), river dues/anchorage charge, pilotage charge etc.
For information on charges/fees collected by the CPA, visit www.cpa.gov.bd.
(c) Mongla Port Authority (MPA): The MPA imposes and collects various fees and charges for services and facilities offered to shipping companies, importers, exporters and other stakeholders at the Mongla sea port. Such fees and charges include - landing charge, port handling charge (for port functions), port demurrage charge (in case of non-clearance after a certain period), river dues/anchorage charge, pilotage charge etc.
For information on charges/fees collected by the MPA visit www.mpa.gov.bd
For details on charges/fees, consult the Mongla Port Authority Notification number nil, dated 26 Nov, 2013, which can be accessed via the MPA website (www.mpa.gov.bd )
(d) Bangladesh Land Port Authority (BLPA): The BLPA imposes and collects various fees and charges for services and facilities offered to its stakeholders at all the land ports in the country. Such fees/charges include warehouse and open yard space charges, berthing charges, water supply charges, river dues, landing charges, other charges.
For detailed information on charges/fees collected by the BLPA, visit www.bsbk.gov.bd (Benapole land port, other land ports)
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 ).