Govt plans duty-free raw material imports

JASIM UDDIN HAROON | Published: May 11, 2026 23:28:10

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Monday said imported raw materials meant for export-oriented industries would be made duty-free to boost the country’s export competitiveness.
“Any raw materials imported for export purposes must be duty-free,” he said while speaking at a discussion on the future of Bangladesh’s economy amid global volatility organised by a vernacular daily in the capital.
The move is believed to be a landmark aimed at promoting exports beyond the country’s dominant readymade garment sector, which currently enjoys such benefits under the bonded warehouse facility.
The minister hinted that the initiative might face bureaucratic resistance as some officials feared the facilities could be misused through the leakage of imported goods into the domestic market instead of being used for exports.
He stressed the need for a more business-friendly policy environment to support export diversification and strengthen the country’s position in the global export market.
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