A shipment out of Chittagong touches nine documents between the factory floor and the buyer's warehouse. Miss one and clearance stops, LC payment stalls, or Bangladesh Bank flags the transaction. Here's the full stack · who issues each, what it does, and the gotcha we see most often on the exports.bd deal thread.
Exporter issues, buyer receives.
The binding statement of what was shipped, quantity, price, Incoterms, and payment terms. Customs uses it to assess duty.
GotchaMust match the packing list line-item for line-item. Mismatches are the #1 cause of clearance delays.
Exporter issues alongside the CI.
Physical breakdown of the shipment · cartons, weights, dimensions, marks. No prices.
GotchaFreight forwarders use this to book the container. Get gross/net weight right or you'll re-work the bill of lading.
Issued by EPB, DCCI, MCCI, or another authorised chamber.
Attests the goods are made in Bangladesh. Unlocks GSP+ preferential duty into EU, Canada, Japan, Australia.
GotchaFor EU shipments use Form A (GSP) or REX-registered self-declaration. Rules-of-origin substantial-transformation matters · fabric-forward for garments.
Issued by the carrier or freight forwarder.
The transport contract and title document. Ocean BL can be negotiable (order BL) or non-negotiable (straight BL).
GotchaUnder LC terms, banks release payment against the BL. Endorse and courier originals the day you get them · demurrage clocks start on arrival.
Issued by the buyer's bank, advised through the exporter's bank.
The bank's undertaking to pay on presentation of compliant documents. UCP 600 governs.
GotchaRead every LC clause the day you receive it. Discrepancies are ~70% of first-presentation rejections · common: late shipment, expired LC, wrong port name.
Bangladesh Bank mandate. Exporter submits through their AD (Authorised Dealer) bank.
Declaration of export proceeds to be repatriated. Required for all commercial exports out of Bangladesh.
GotchaMust be lodged before shipment. Delay in proceeds realisation beyond the prescribed period triggers Bangladesh Bank enquiries.
Issued by SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek or similar, when the destination country requires.
Third-party attestation of quantity, quality, and packing before the container seals.
GotchaNigeria, Algeria, Uzbekistan and several African markets mandate this. Book inspection 5-7 days before shipment cut-off.
Issued by the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) for agro exports.
Attests plant products are free from quarantine pests. Mandatory for tea, jute, spices, vegetables, seeds.
GotchaApply 3-5 working days before shipment. Some destinations (EU) require specific treatment declarations (fumigation, heat).
Issued by Islamic Foundation Bangladesh or an accredited body recognised by the destination.
Attests processing and ingredients meet halal standards. Critical for food, cosmetics, pharma into GCC and Malaysia.
GotchaGCC buyers increasingly require JAKIM (Malaysia) or MUI (Indonesia) cross-recognition. Confirm which body the buyer accepts before certifying.