The government in the new budget for 2023-2024 proposed Amendments to the Passenger Baggage Rules, 2016, which lowered the limit for the passengers carrying gold bar or gold pieces and impose higher taxes.

In addition, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal in his budget speech proposed ensuring punishment if the passengers carry gold or silver without making prior announcement.

Presently, a passenger was allowed to import gold bars or gold pieces weighing 234 grammes on arrival from abroad subject to payment of all duties and taxes.

Now it is lowered to 117 grammes subject to payment of all duties and taxes.

For this purpose, the Finance Minister said necessary amendments have been brought to the existing baggage rules.

Presently under Baggage Rules, there is a provision to import gold bars or gold pieces by passenger on arrival from abroad subject to payment of a total duty of Tk.2,000 for every 11.664 grams of gold.

In the budget for the next financial year 2023-24, the amount of this duty tax has been made to pay a total of Tk 4,000/- (four thousand)  for every 11.664 grams of gold.

Earlier, the provision of punishment for carrying gold bars or gold pieces or silver bars or silver pieces in excess of the prescribed amount was not clearly defined.

Now, the government proposed to add it in the existing rules so that anyone bringing any quantity of gold bar or gold piece or silver bar or silver piece in excess of the stipulated amount, then the valuables shall be liable to confiscation in accordance with the Customs Act, 1969.

As the provision of punishment for carrying gold bars or gold pieces or silver bars or silver pieces in excess of the prescribed amount is not clearly defined, it can be added to the existing rules.

The following proviso has been added to sub-rule (10) of Rule 3 of the existing rules, namely:

"Provided, however, that any quantity of gold bars or gold pieces or silver bars or silver pieces in excess of the stipulated amount, or any quantity of gold bars or gold pieces or silver bars or silver pieces brought in concealed condition, shall be liable to confiscation in accordance with the Customs Act, 1969."