Bangladesh Bank has allowed e-commerce exporters to repatriate small-value export proceeds through Mobile Financial Service Providers (MFSPs) and Payment Service Providers (PSPs), expanding the scope of digital export transactions.
The central bank issued two separate circulars on Wednesday introducing the new measures.
In one circular, Bangladesh Bank raised the permissible limit for exports that can be made without a declaration on the Export Permission (EXP) Form to $1,000 or equivalent 鈥� doubling the previous ceiling of $500.
The move aims to support micro, small, and e-commerce-based exporters operating under business-to-consumer (B2C) models that typically handle low-value consignments.
Simultaneously, the central bank expanded its digital repatriation framework, allowing export proceeds from such small-value transactions to be received through licensed MFSPs and PSPs.
Previously, these channels were allowed to repatriate only income from IT-related service exports.
Under the new rule, they can now process proceeds from goods exports worth up to $1,000 or equivalent, without requiring an EXP Form declaration.
An EXP Form typically contains details about the goods, destination, value, and payment terms and must be certified by both the exporter and an authorized dealer (AD) bank before shipment.
According to the circulars, AD banks will facilitate repatriations through settlement accounts maintained by MFSPs and PSPs, ensuring compliance with know-your-customer (KYC), due diligence, and anti-money laundering (AML) standards.
The digital payment providers must also verify and onboard legitimate e-commerce exporters and credit their accounts electronically once proceeds are received.
Central bank officials said the revised framework aims to make export procedures easier for small and digital exporters by cutting bureaucracy, enhancing transparency, and connecting e-commerce transactions to formal banking and payment systems.
The initiative is also expected to bring more foreign income through legal channels and curb informal or underreported transfers from small-scale exporters.
BB officials expected that it will benefit thousands of entrepreneurs鈥攑articularly young and women-led online ventures鈥攚ho use platforms such as Etsy, Amazon, Alibaba, and Daraz to sell Bangladeshi products abroad.
The $500 cap was insufficient given the rapid growth of e-commerce exports, especially in sectors like handicrafts, leather goods, clothing, and home decor.
The new policy, they said, will enable faster payments, reduce operational costs, and promote greater participation of local SMEs in global digital trade.
