Bangladesh Bank has announced a new mandatory reporting requirement within its Online Import Monitoring System (OIMS) to streamline the country’s import trade process further.

In a circular issued on Wednesday, the central bank introduced a new feature titled “Commercial Invoice” within the OIMS, which will require Authorized Dealers (ADs) to report detailed import-related information. The directive will take effect from 1 November 2025, according to a statement reported by BSS.

The decision, taken under Section 20(3) of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947, and Section 45(1)(Gha) of the Bank Company Act, 1991, aims to enhance transparency and accuracy in import transaction reporting.

Currently, authorized dealers are responsible for entering import transaction data into the OIMS. With the new tab, they will now be required to report information drawn directly from commercial invoices and other supporting documents.

To facilitate compliance, Bangladesh Bank has advised ADs to follow specific procedures outlined in the OIMS guidelines. These can be accessed under the path: Documents > Other Documents/Guidelines > Commercial Invoice Data Entry/Upload Manual.

The central bank noted that the OIMS already operates with improved efficiency after being integrated with the National Board of Revenue’s (NBR) online systems through an Application Programming Interface (API), enabling better coordination between financial and customs authorities.

Officials said the latest measure forms part of Bangladesh Bank’s ongoing efforts to digitalize and simplify trade-related reporting, ensuring smoother and more transparent import operations.