Industries
Import & Export
IRC and ERC registration, customs and bond matters, trade documentation, and cross-border supply contracts.
In short
Tuhin & Partners advises importers and exporters in Bangladesh on import and export registration certificates, customs classification and valuation disputes, bonded warehouse facilities, letters of credit and trade documentation, cross-border supply and distribution contracts, and appeals against customs assessments. Trade registrations are issued by the Office of the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports.
Key takeaways
- Importing requires an Import Registration Certificate (IRC) and exporting an Export Registration Certificate (ERC), both from the CCI&E.
- Customs classification and valuation are the most common sources of dispute, and both can be challenged.
- Trade is settled largely through letters of credit, and the documentary terms decide who bears the risk when a shipment goes wrong.
- Tuhin & Partners advises on registrations, contracts and customs disputes.
Cross-border trade in Bangladesh runs on registration and documentation: Import Registration Certificates, Export Registration Certificates, letters of credit, customs classification and valuation, and bonded warehouse facilities.
We advise importers, exporters, and trading houses on registration and licensing, customs and duty matters, trade finance documentation, international sale and distribution contracts, and disputes with counterparties, carriers, and authorities.
Common questions
What is an IRC and ERC in Bangladesh?
An Import Registration Certificate authorises a business to import into Bangladesh and an Export Registration Certificate authorises it to export, both issued by the Office of the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports. They are required in addition to a trade licence and, where applicable, membership of the relevant trade body.
Can a customs valuation or classification be challenged in Bangladesh?
Yes. Customs assessments can be challenged through the departmental appeal process and onward to the Customs, Excise and VAT Appellate Tribunal, and in appropriate cases by writ. Challenges are considerably stronger when the supporting documentation was assembled at the time of import.
What is back-to-back LC and when is it used?
A back-to-back letter of credit is opened against an export letter of credit already received, allowing an exporter to finance the import of the inputs needed to fulfil that export order. It is widely used in the RMG sector and is closely tied to bonded warehouse operation.
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