Dhaka: Bangladesh Bank has streamlined foreign exchange regulations governing import trade, aiming to simplify procedures and align them with contemporary business needs. The central bank issued a new consolidated circular on Thursday, bringing together various directives issued over the past year into a single framework.

According to United News of Bangladesh, the move is expected to facilitate international trade by making import-related foreign exchange procedures simpler and more transparent. The new circular updates ‘FE Circular No. 33’ issued on August 14, 2025, consolidating various guidelines from the past year into a single directive. This consolidation aims to bring all foreign exchange regulations related to imports under one unified circular.

With the issuance of the consolidated circular, all previous circulars and instructions on the subject stand cancelled. However, existing reporting requirements relating to import trade will remain unchanged. The circular was issued under the powers conferred by Section 20(3) of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947, and will remain effective for one year. Any new instructions issued during this period will apply in conjunction with the circular.

Stakeholders have expressed optimism that aligning foreign trade practices with current business realities would aid in facilitating Bangladesh’s international trade. Experts, however, emphasized the importance of effective implementation at the field level, stronger digital infrastructure, and enhanced capacity of banks and importers to fully realize the benefits of the new framework.