The Bangladesh Bank has made it mandatory to obtain prior approval from the Chief Boiler Inspector for importing boilers and boiler components.
Issued in light of directives from the Ministry of Industries, this new regulation comes into immediate effect for all Authorized Dealer (AD) branches engaged in foreign exchange transactions in the country.
On Tuesday (July 14), the Foreign Exchange Policy Department of Bangladesh Bank issued a circular in this regard.
It stated that the new provision for importing boilers and boiler components has been implemented in accordance with the directives issued by the Boiler Branch of the Ministry of Industries on June 28.
According to the new directive, any individual or organization wishing to import a boiler or boiler components must apply using the prescribed form and obtain prior approval from the chief boiler inspector before proceeding with the import.
Upon receiving the application, the relevant officer will verify the required documents and submit a report.
Based on that report, the chief boiler inspector will either approve the import or reject the application.
If approved, the deputy chief boiler inspector will issue a formal approval letter. if the application is rejected, the applicant must be informed of the reasons in writing within seven working days.
Following this, the applicant will have the opportunity to reapply after rectifying the necessary errors or deficiencies and paying the prescribed fee.
The circular further stated that the boiler manufacturer must complete construction within a maximum of 12 months from the date of drawing and design approval.
Furthermore, after supplying or selling the boiler, all documents, certificates, and information required for registration must be handed over to the buyer organization, and the name and address of the buyer organization must be reported to the Chief Boiler Inspector in writing.
In addition, the occupational health and safety of the workers employed in the factory must be ensured, and the prevailing labor laws and relevant regulations must be strictly followed in this regard.
Bangladesh Bank noted that, if necessary, the relevant authorities may conduct on-site inspections of the manufacturer’s factory, production processes, and quality control systems to ensure the quality of the boiler.
Stakeholders believe that this new directive will strengthen the control and supervision over boiler imports. At the same time, it will play a positive role in preventing the import of low-quality or risky boilers, ensuring safety in industrial factories, and effectively implementing existing laws and regulations.