Bangladesh Bank has told banks to keep the margin for opening letters of credit (LCs) at the lowest level for imports of 10 goods ahead of the holy month of Ramadan. The instruction aims to ensure adequate supply of these goods in the local market and keep prices bearable.
The central bank issued a circular to this effect on Sunday.
It says cash margins on LCs for importing these goods must be kept at a minimum, based on the banker-customer relationship. The instruction takes effect immediately and will remain in force until 15 March next year.
The goods covered are rice, wheat (flour), onions, lentils, edible oil (soybean and palm oil), sugar, chickpeas, peas, spices and dates. The decision takes into account the rise in demand for these goods during Ramadan, and is meant to ease imports so that prices stay bearable and supply is ensured.
The circular also says banks must give priority to opening import LCs for these goods to secure supply in the domestic market.
In an instruction issued on 5 September 2024, Bangladesh Bank had ordered a 100 percent cash margin on LCs for importing certain goods. Later, on 11 November 2025, another instruction told banks to keep cash margins at a minimum, based on the banker-customer relationship, for importing certain essentials to meet Ramadan demand. That instruction was in force until 31 March 2026.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report