The government has prepared a draft policy proposing sweeping regulations for cross-border digital commerce, including mandatory local registration for foreign digital platforms.
It has also proposed a ban on gambling, betting, and lotteries to strengthen consumer protection, improve regulatory oversight, and promote digital exports.
The Ministry of Commerce has published the Draft Cross-Border Digital Commerce Policy 2026 for public consultation, inviting comments from stakeholders by August 6.
Under the draft, all cross-border digital commerce entities must obtain a Digital Business Identity (DBID) registration from the commerce ministry.
Global technology platforms, including Google, Facebook, and YouTube, will also be required to establish a registered presence in Bangladesh before conducting online business or publishing advertisements aimed at local consumers.
The draft requires foreign digital businesses to comply with Bangladesh's tax regime, including value-added tax (VAT), income tax, and other applicable statutory obligations.
As part of a broader compliance framework, the policy proposes a blanket ban on cross-border online gambling, betting, and lotteries.
It also prohibits the issuance, sale, or exchange of unauthorised gift cards, vouchers, or other digital instruments functioning as money substitutes without prior approval from the Bangladesh Bank (BB).
The policy further bans the online trade and advertisement of counterfeit, prohibited, or misleading products through digital and over-the-top (OTT) platforms.
To facilitate secure cross-border transactions, the government plans to introduce a Cross-Border Escrow Service in collaboration with the central bank and integrate payment systems with internationally recognised payment gateways to streamline import payments and export proceeds.
The draft also seeks to boost digital exports by treating earnings from cross-border e-commerce as conventional export receipts, making them eligible for the existing fiscal incentives.
It supports drop shipping, entrepôt trade, and merchanting trade, while proposing dedicated policy support and insurance facilities for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) exporters engaged in small-parcel shipments.
On consumer protection, the draft mandates full refunds through the original payment channel for defective, expired, counterfeit, or misrepresented products.
It also proposes an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism for cross-border disputes and expansion of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection's Central Complaint Management System (CCMS).
To improve logistics oversight, the policy proposes establishing a Central Logistics Tracking Platform (CLTP) linked with payment systems and courier networks.
A high-level implementation, monitoring, and evaluation committee - led by the commerce ministry and comprising representatives from the National Board of Revenue (NBR), BB, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), ICT Division, e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB), Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), and other agencies - will oversee the policy's implementation.
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