Bangladesh: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 17 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Bangladesh.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓

No elevated country indicator for Bangladesh in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Bangladesh may still be on a list.

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On the sanctions lists

17 entries on the official lists name Bangladesh — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.

List	Entries	Companies & organisations	Vessels	Aircraft
US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN)	8	8	—	—
UK Sanctions List (FCDO)	3	3	—	—
UN Security Council Consolidated List	2	2	—	—
EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (FSF)	2	2	—	—
Switzerland SECO Consolidated Sanctions List	2	2	—	—

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Bangladesh recorded yet.

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All sanctioned countries compared by regime

Logistics profile

Bangladesh: logistics and trade

Textile and apparel exporter, South Asian seaport gateway

Bangladesh (BD) lies in South Asia on the Bay of Bengal and, as the world's second-largest apparel exporter, is a key sourcing region with Chattogram as its seaport gateway. Customs clearance runs electronically through ASYCUDA World under the National Board of Revenue; standard import VAT is 15 percent, plus duties on the CFR value. Until LDC graduation on 24 November 2026 the country benefits from EU EBA preferences (transition until November 2029). The main gateways are Chattogram (around 90 percent of foreign trade, over 3.4 million TEU in 2025), Mongla and Payra — with Matarbari under construction as the first deep-sea port — plus the airports of Dhaka (DAC) and Chattogram (CGP). Key corridors are the Dhaka–Chattogram road (N1), the Dhaka–Chattogram rail line and the inland waterways with the Pangaon terminal. Main exports are apparel, jute and leather goods; imports centre on machinery, textile raw materials and petroleum products, with the EU, USA, China and India as leading partners.

Capital: Dhaka
Population: 173,000,000
Area: 148,460 km²
Currency: Bangladesh Taka (BDT)
Continent: Asia
Region: South Asia
Economic area: SAARC / BIMSTEC (LDC until 24.11.2026)
Religions: Islam, Hinduism
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Air · Road · Rail · Inland waterway

Current situation: Chattogram: 48-hour strike by container truck operators 21.-23.7.2026 (protest against increased Advance Income Tax) disrupted import and export traffic; in addition, a jurisdictional dispute between the port authority and customs over about 250 untraceable containers, and an online auction of 168 old containers to ease congestion. Budget FY2026/27: new 15 percent VAT on 20 previously exempt import items, tariff revision across 261 lines in preparation for LDC graduation (24.11.2026). (as of 2026-07-25)
Seasonal conditions: Monsoon (June to October) with flooding, and cyclones from the Bay of Bengal, especially April/May and October/November.

Main seaports

Mongla
Mongla (BD MGL): Bangladesh's second seaport on the Pasur, ~100,000 TEU/year plus jute, fertiliser and grain. Large volumes often via Chittagong.
Chittagong
Chittagong (BD CGP), Bangladesh's main seaport: record 3.53M TEU in FY2025/26 (+7.1%), about 90% of foreign trade. Containers, bulk; alternatives Mongla, Matarbari.

Main cargo airports

Hazrat Shahjalal International AirportDAC
Hazrat Shahjalal (DAC) is Bangladesh's main cargo airport: ~230,000 t in 2024, mostly garment exports, Cargo Village handling and Terminal 3 expansion.
Shah Amanat International AirportCGP
Shah Amanat (CGP), Bangladesh's second-largest airport in Chattogram: ~6,000 t cargo a year, new 270-t station, sea-air interface beside the main port.

Road corridors

Dhaka-Chattogram (N1)
Dhaka-Mongla
Asian Highway AH1 / AH2

Rail corridors

Dhaka-Chattogram
Dhaka-Khulna / Mongla

Inland ports

Pangaon Inland Container Terminal (Dhaka)
Ashuganj

Main trade lanes

Bangladesh-EU
Bangladesh-USA
Bangladesh-China
Bangladesh-India

Customs and import

Customs authority National Board of Revenue (NBR) / Bangladesh CustomsOfficial website ↗

Import customs system: Customs clearance is electronic via ASYCUDA World. Import declaration (Bill of Entry) is submitted by the importer or a C&F agent; the importer needs an Import Registration Certificate (IRC) from the CCI&E.
Export customs system: Export processing is handled via ASYCUDA World; the exporter needs an Export Registration Certificate (ERC) and the EXP form. EU EBA preferential access continues after LDC graduation until November 2029.
Import VAT: Standard VAT of 15 percent on most imports; in addition, customs duty on the CFR value plus 1 percent insurance and 1 percent landing charge.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: As an LDC, Bangladesh uses unilateral preferences (EU EBA, GSP). Proof of origin via REX/Form A. EBA transition until November 2029 after LDC graduation on 24.11.2026.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Prohibitions and restrictions per the Import Policy Order. Licensing required, among others, for weapons and chemicals; certain goods require Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI).

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading / air waybill
Letter of credit (L/C)
Bill of Entry (ASYCUDA World)
Import Registration Certificate (IRC)
PSI certificate if applicable

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading / air waybill
Export Registration Certificate (ERC)
EXP form
Certificate of origin (Form A / REX)

Logistics conditions

Customs complexity: High
Customs delays: High
Port congestion: High
Dangerous goods relevance: Medium
Pharma and cold chain relevance: Medium
E-commerce relevance: Medium to high

Trade

Top import partners

China India Singapore Japan Indonesia

Top export partners

United States Germany Spain United Kingdom France

Top import goods

Machinery
Textile raw materials
Petroleum products
Chemicals
Metals

Top export goods

Clothing and textiles
Jute
Leather goods
Fish
Home textiles

Typical cargo

Clothing / textiles
Jute and jute products
Leather goods
Frozen fish / shrimp
Machinery (import)
Petroleum products (import)

Upcoming public holidays

Victory DayWed, 16 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
Christmas DayFri, 25 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
Shaheed Day / International Mother Language DaySun, 21 Feb 2027 · businesses closed
Independence DayFri, 26 Mar 2027 · businesses closed
Pahela Baishakh (Bengali New Year)Wed, 14 Apr 2027 · businesses closed
Labour DaySat, 1 May 2027 · businesses closed
Victory DayThu, 16 Dec 2027 · businesses closed
Christmas DaySat, 25 Dec 2027 · businesses closed

Latest logistics news

China-Laos Railway Exceeds 90 Million Tonnes in Total Freight17 Sept 2026
The China-Laos Railway is developing into a regional trade corridor. A total of 90 million tonnes of freight have been transported, of which 21 million tonnes crossed borders.
Saudi Arabia Establishes 14-Nation Alliance for the Red Sea3 Aug 2026
Saudi Arabia leads a 14-nation alliance to protect the Red Sea. In the short term, little is changing for shipping companies: the mission is still in the build-up phase.

Logistics questions

Which customs system does Bangladesh use?

Customs clearance is handled electronically via ASYCUDA World under the National Board of Revenue (NBR). Importers need an Import Registration Certificate (IRC), and exporters an Export Registration Certificate (ERC).

What is the import tax (VAT) rate in Bangladesh?

The standard VAT rate is 15 percent on most imports. In addition, customs duty is charged on the CFR value plus 1 percent insurance and 1 percent landing charge.

Which ports handle foreign trade?

The port of Chattogram (Chittagong) handles around 90 percent of foreign trade and almost all container traffic. Mongla (bulk cargo) and Payra complement it; Matarbari is being developed as the first deep-sea port.

Which documents are needed for imports?

Required documents include, among others, the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill, a letter of credit (L/C), the Bill of Entry and the IRC. Certain goods require a Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI).

What does LDC graduation in 2026 mean for trade?

Bangladesh loses its LDC status on 24.11.2026. Duty-free EU market access (Everything But Arms) continues thanks to a transition period until November 2029; afterwards, GSP+ or free trade agreements will be required.

Which risks exist in the supply chain?

The main risks are port congestion and strikes in Chattogram, lengthy customs clearance, monsoon flooding and cyclones from the Bay of Bengal, as well as the political transition period after the February 2026 election.

Which airport is key for air freight?

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka (DAC) is the most important air cargo hub; a new third terminal significantly increases capacity. Chattogram (CGP) serves as a supplement.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗