Date of publication:
01/08/2026
Bangladesh
Do domestic laws and policies allow forcibly displaced and stateless persons to bring their property and other assets to the country at the time of admission, and to take their property and other assets with them during repatriation or relocation?
Assessment by population
Analysis
Bangladeshi domestic laws and policies do not specifically address the ability of refugees or asylum-seekers to bring or take property and other assets into or out of the country.
In the absence of domestic laws specifically addressing refugees, guidance on property and asset-related matters concerning Rohingya refugees is provided by circulars and orders issued by the Government of Bangladesh, along with customary practices. The Government has not issued any guidelines or policy related to the ability of Rohingya refugees to bring or take property and their assets into or out of the country.
The Customs Act, 2023 is the primary act that regulates import and export of goods, personal belongings and other types of movable property brought into or taken out from Bangladesh. It provides certain procedures for declaration, exemptions from duty and other processes related to clearance. The Baggage Rules, 2024 outline the charges, exemptions, free allowances, and other conditions related to personal belongings and other necessary items. The amount of charge or allowance depends on the duration of stay and legal status of the person concerned. The inflow and outflow of foreign assets and currency are dealt with by The Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947. These laws all explicitly detail guidelines on the process and procedures for bringing in and taking out property and assets.
Refugees and asylum-seekers do not have legal entitlements to import or export goods. Rohingya refugees departing Bangladesh under resettlement or complementary pathways are also allowed to take their belongings with them as per standard airline baggage allowance guidelines and policies (i.e. two bags each with 23KG maximum and one hand luggage with 7KG maximum).