The government has proposed to reduce the specific duty on import of gold to facilitate travellers bring in gold bars, and jewellery through proper channel.
According to the budget speech for fiscal year 2019-20, a passenger will be able to bring 11.664 gm (one Bhori or tola) of gold, after paying duty charges proposed at Tk 2000, down from the existing Tk 3000, for both unwrought, and semi manufactured gold.
The import duty for import of gold bars (up to 234gm) has been also proposed to bring down to Tk 2000 from Tk3000.


Almost 80% of this demand is met with smuggled gold, as traders faced difficulties importing the precious metal, due to complex procedures laid out in Gold Policy 2018, which was cleared by the government in October 2018.
In a notification on May 28, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) said that traders can legalise stock of gold by paying Tk 1,000 per bhori (11.664 grams).
In the case of cut and polished diamonds, the tax will be Tk6,000 per carat.
The authorities also fixed the tax for silver at Tk 50 per bhori.
The old offer will stay valid until Jun 30, 2019.