Lesson 35 of 39 · Part O · Level 2 · Explained
Jewellery, precious stones and securities coming in
What counts as jewellery and precious stones, why the FER Act puts no restriction on importing them but gold jewellery must come through authorized gold dealers, and why securities may come into Bangladesh freely under the FER Act.
In Lesson 34, Gold and silver: what they are and who may bring them in, Kabir learned that gold bars need Bangladesh Bank's approval, and Tamim learned that a passenger's small gold bar is covered by a general permission up to the Baggage Rules limit.
Today the gold arrives already shaped. Rumi, who runs the small family jewellery workshop in Tanti Bazar, Old Dhaka, comes to the import desk with a tray of samples. "I want to import loose pearls and some semi-precious stones for my workshop," she tells Rakib. "And a supplier abroad offered me ready-made gold chains to resell here. Are these 'gold' too, with all the permissions?"
Tamim is back as well, with a different worry. "Last month I sent my foreign shares abroad to sell. They didn't sell. Now I want them back. Do I need another permit to bring them home?"
Sadia invites the week's guest to the desk: Dr Omar, an economist and university professor, and a retired government officer who once served as Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Board. Dr Omar picks up one of Rumi's pearls and holds it to the light. "The law treats a bar and a bangle very differently," he says. "Let's see why."
This lesson covers O-5 to O-7: what jewellery and precious stones mean, the rule on importing them, and the rule on importing securities.
Definition of jewellery and precious stones
In plain words
O-5 sets out what jewellery and precious stone mean. The terms are treated as including:
- all articles made wholly or mainly of gold, platinum, diamonds of all kinds, precious or semi-precious stones, or pearls, whether or not mounted, set or strung; and
- articles set or mounted with diamonds, precious or semi-precious stones or pearls.
So a loose pearl, a string of pearls, a gold chain, a platinum ring and a brass hair clip set with small stones can all fall inside the meaning. "Mainly" matters: the article doesn't need to be 100% gold or stone.
If this sounds familiar, it is. The export circular uses the same meaning (Export Lesson 37, N-5). Silver is not named in this list; O-6 and O-11 speak about gold jewellery and, in O-11, silver jewellery too. O-5 itself doesn't say more about silver.
At the desk
Rumi lays three samples on the desk: a gold chain, a string of loose freshwater pearls with no clasp, and a brass hair clip set with small garnets. "Is only the chain jewellery?" she asks. Dr Omar shakes his head. "All three fit O-5. The chain is mainly gold, pearls count whether strung or not, and the clip is set with semi-precious stones, whatever its base metal."
Key words
- Semi-precious stone
- A gemstone of lower value than the most prized stones, such as a garnet or an amethyst.
- Mounted or set
- Fixed into a metal frame or holder, as a stone is fixed into a ring.
- Platinum
- A rare, heavy, silver-white precious metal, often used in jewellery.
Read the rule as written (Para O-5)
The terms jewellery and precious stone are deemed to include all articles made wholly or mainly of gold, platinum, diamonds of all kinds, precious or semi-precious stones, pearls, whether or not mounted, set or strung and articles set or mounted with diamonds, precious or semi-precious stones or pearls.
Source: Bangladesh Bank, FEPD-1 Circular No. 30, 13 August 2026, Part O, paragraph 5 (page 40). The original circular is the authority.
Import of jewellery and precious stones
In plain words
O-6 has two sentences, and the second one turns the first.
The general rule. There are no restrictions under the FER Act, 1947 on importing jewellery and precious stones. Compare O-2: gold bars are banned except with permission; jewellery and stones are not caught by that ban.
The "however". Importing gold jewellery must be done by gold dealers authorized by Bangladesh Bank, within the Gold Policy-2018 (amended)-2021.
So:
- pearls, diamonds and other precious or semi-precious stones: no FER Act restriction on import;
- gold jewellery: through an authorized gold dealer, within the Gold Policy.
Travellers' own jewellery is a separate rule, in O-10 (Lesson 37).
Notice the words "under the FER Act, 1947". O-6 speaks only about that Act. It doesn't say anything about other laws, such as customs rules or duties, so this lesson doesn't either.
At the desk
Rakib checks Rumi's two plans against O-6. The loose pearls and semi-precious stones face no restriction under the FER Act, 1947. The ready-made gold chains are gold jewellery, so their import must be executed by a gold dealer authorized by Bangladesh Bank within the Gold Policy. Rumi is not a gold dealer, so Sadia suggests she talk to an authorized dealer such as Kabir. Dr Omar adds, "Stones may walk in through the front door. Gold jewellery comes through the dealer's door."
Key words
- FER Act 1947
- Foreign Exchange Regulation Act. The main law behind Bangladesh Bank's foreign exchange rules.
- Authorized gold dealer
- A gold dealer authorized by Bangladesh Bank within the Gold Policy. Under O-3, Bangladesh Bank gives such dealers approval to import gold, against applications.
- Gold Policy
- The policy named in O-3 and O-6 as the Gold Policy-2018 (amended)-2021. Bangladesh Bank approves gold imports by authorized gold dealers in terms of it.
Read the rule as written (Para O-6)
There are no restrictions under the FER Act, 1947 on the import of jewellery and precious stones. However, import of gold jewellery is to be executed by gold dealers authorized by Bangladesh Bank within the purview of the Gold Policy-2018 (amended)-2021.
Source: Bangladesh Bank, FEPD-1 Circular No. 30, 13 August 2026, Part O, paragraph 6 (page 40). The original circular is the authority.
In plain words
O-7 is a single line: there are no restrictions under the FER Act, 1947 on importing securities into Bangladesh.
A security is a paper or record showing an investment, such as a share or a bond. Bringing such papers into Bangladesh is free under the FER Act.
Compare the export side. In Export Lesson 36 (N-4), taking or sending securities out of Bangladesh needed Bangladesh Bank's permission. Coming in, O-7 sets no FER Act restriction. Think of a one-way street with a guard only at the exit.
As with O-6, O-7 speaks only of the FER Act. It doesn't say anything about other rules that may apply to securities, so this lesson doesn't either.
At the desk
Tamim's foreign shares did not sell abroad, and he wants them sent back to Bangladesh. Rakib explains that O-7 places no restriction under the FER Act, 1947 on importing securities into Bangladesh, so no import permit is needed under that Act. Sadia reminds Tamim that when the shares went out, his AD gave an undertaking that they would come back within a specified period or the sale money would be remitted. "Bringing them home keeps that promise," she says.
Key words
- Security
- An investment paper or record, such as a share or a bond, that shows ownership of an investment or a right to be paid.
- Foreign securities
- Securities issued abroad, such as shares or bonds of a foreign company.
Read the rule as written (Para O-7)
There are no restrictions under the FER Act, 1947 on import of securities into Bangladesh.
Source: Bangladesh Bank, FEPD-1 Circular No. 30, 13 August 2026, Part O, paragraph 7 (page 40). The original circular is the authority.
Putting it together
So far: jewellery and precious stone include articles made wholly or mainly of gold, platinum, diamonds, precious or semi-precious stones or pearls (mounted, set or strung or not), and articles set or mounted with diamonds, stones or pearls. The FER Act, 1947 puts no restriction on importing jewellery and precious stones, but gold jewellery must be imported by gold dealers authorized by Bangladesh Bank within the Gold Policy-2018 (amended)-2021. The FER Act also puts no restriction on importing securities into Bangladesh.
Next: Lesson 36, Bringing foreign currency and Taka into Bangladesh, follows a traveller through the arrival hall with cash in his pocket.