How to import from Bangladesh: a step-by-step guide for buyers
Buying from Bangladesh for the first time? This guide walks you through the process our buyers in Saudi Arabia, the USA and Europe follow — from checking a supplier to receiving your container. It is general guidance, not legal advice: always confirm your own country's rules with your customs broker.
1. Decide what you want to buy
Bangladesh exports a wide range of products: ready-made garments, leather goods and footwear, jute products, frozen fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, aromatic rice, potatoes, spices and packaged foods. Start with a clear product description: variety or grade, size, packing, labelling language and the quantity you need.
Write down the HS code if you know it. The HS code decides your import duty and which documents your customs authority will ask for, so it is worth confirming with your customs broker early.
2. Find a supplier and check that they are real
Ask every new supplier for basic company papers before you pay anything. A genuine Bangladeshi exporter can share:
- Certificate of incorporation from the RJSC (Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms), for a limited company
- A valid trade licence from the city corporation
- An Export Registration Certificate (ERC)
- TIN and BIN (VAT) certificates
- Membership of a chamber of commerce or trade association
- Bank details in the company's own name — never a personal account
A live video call with the supplier’s team and a look at the actual goods — plus a visit to the production site by you or an agent if the order is large — add extra confidence.
3. Get samples and a proforma invoice
Ask for samples by courier (DHL, FedEx) before you place the first order. Once you approve a sample, the supplier sends a proforma invoice (PI) with product description, quantity, unit price, Incoterm, payment terms, packing, delivery time and bank details. Check every line: the PI usually becomes the basis of your contract and L/C.
4. Agree the Incoterm and payment terms
Most Bangladeshi exporters quote FOB Chattogram (Chittagong) for sea freight, or FOB/FCA Dhaka airport for air cargo. You can also ask for CFR or CIF prices delivered to your port.
Common payment terms are an advance by T/T (bank transfer) plus the balance by an irrevocable letter of credit (L/C) at sight, or a full L/C. For repeat business, other terms such as documents against payment can be discussed. An L/C protects both sides: the seller is paid only when the shipping documents match the L/C terms.
5. Production, inspection and loading
Agro products are usually ready to ship within a few weeks; leather goods, footwear and custom jute products need around 30–60 days of production. Before loading, ask for photos and videos of the goods and packing. You can also appoint an independent inspection company such as SGS, Bureau Veritas or Intertek to check quality and quantity.
6. Export documents you should receive
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Bill of lading (sea) or air waybill (air)
- Certificate of origin — issued by a chamber of commerce, or a GSP/preferential certificate from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) where your country gives duty benefits
- Phytosanitary certificate from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Plant Quarantine Wing for fresh produce, rice, nuts and other plant products
- Fumigation certificate where required
- Product certificates your market needs, for example Halal, health certificates or lab test reports
Ask your customs broker which of these your country requires for your product, so the supplier can prepare them before shipping.
7. Know your own country's import rules
Each market has its own rules, and they change, so always check the latest requirements with your customs broker or the authority itself:
- Saudi Arabia: food imports are regulated by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), and many products need a conformity certificate through the SABER platform. Arabic labelling is required for food.
- United States: food facilities must be registered with the FDA and every food shipment needs FDA Prior Notice before it arrives.
- European Union and UK: fresh fruits and vegetables usually need a phytosanitary certificate, and food must meet EU or UK limits for pesticide residues and contaminants.
8. Shipping and transit times
Most sea cargo leaves from Chattogram port, usually through a transhipment hub such as Colombo or Singapore. Air cargo leaves from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. Transit times vary by route and carrier; as a rough guide, the Gulf is the closest market by sea, followed by Europe and then North America. Ask your supplier or forwarder for the current schedule for your port.