All passengers will now be allowed to bring one new mobile phone per year without paying any duty, according to new baggage rules issued by the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
Additionally, expatriate Bangladeshis holding BMET cards—issued by the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET)—and who have stayed abroad for at least six months, can bring two new mobile phones duty-free each year, the NBR said in a press release.
To make the baggage system more efficient and passenger-friendly, the NBR has introduced the updated “Unaccompanied Passenger Baggage Rules, 2025,” which come into effect on Wednesday.
Under the new rules, passengers can also bring up to 100 grams of gold ornaments or 2,000 grams of silver ornaments per year, either at once or over multiple trips, without paying duty.
Furthermore, travelers may bring one gold bar weighing up to 10 tolas once a year by paying a duty of Tk 5,000 per tola.
Following consultations with stakeholders and field-level offices, the NBR amended several provisions—including increased baggage allowances for expatriate Bangladeshis—through a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO).
The updated rules also introduce an online system for submitting baggage declaration forms. All arriving passengers must now submit the form before leaving the customs hall or customs area to prevent misuse of the facility.
