Bangladesh Solar Import Relief: The 1% Duty and Its Conditions
Bangladesh’s September customs measures reduce the import-tax burden on specified solar equipment for a limited period. The effect on an electricity user’s project depends on the eligible goods, importer compliance and the final system cost.
The September measure and its time window
Bangladesh’s Ministry of Finance issued SRO 339 on 15 September 2026, with publication in the official gazette on 16 September. The notification takes immediate effect and is valid for 180 days from issuance. It exempts qualifying imports from customs duty above 1% of assessed value, together with VAT, regulatory duty, supplementary duty where applicable, advance tax and advance income tax. Official notification: SRO 339.
The remaining 1% is an import-stage customs duty. It is not a tax rate for the entire installation and does not mean every project will become cheaper by the same percentage. The temporary legal window also should not be confused with an installation deadline or a direct payment to an electricity user.
A companion order, SRO 338, revises the tax wording in the earlier June solar-import framework. It is separate from SRO 339’s equipment schedule and conditions. The September notices therefore need to be read within their own scope, rather than as a general exemption for everything sold as solar equipment. Official notification: SRO 338.
Which equipment is covered
SRO 339 lists solar photovoltaic modules and panels, solar inverters, steel and aluminium mounting structures, specified photovoltaic generators, battery management systems, plant monitoring or control systems, and battery thermal-management systems. The customs classification and description attached to each entry determine its scope.
The photovoltaic-generator descriptions can include components such as lithium storage batteries and inverters. That wording does not create an unrestricted concession for every standalone battery or storage product. The precise goods and their classification must match the notification before the reduced tax treatment can be assumed.
Importer conditions and technical evidence
The importer must be VAT-compliant. Where solar panels and lithium batteries enter as components of photovoltaic generators, the manufacturer must certify that they are new. The relevant lithium batteries must comply with IEC 62619:2022, with supporting certification from an accredited organisation or laboratory.
The notification also requires a joint undertaking signed by the importer’s authorised leadership and the president or secretary general of the Bangladesh Sustainable and Renewable Energy Association. It confirms that the goods will be sold or supplied for solar-power plants or systems. Customs officers must verify compliance, and clearance needs approval at deputy or assistant commissioner level. SRO 339: conditions and undertaking.
These conditions are part of the relief itself. The order does not establish that a named brand, a photographed product or every available model qualifies. Import treatment is also separate from the technical assessment and local requirements for an individual installation.
How the change may reach electricity users
In APsolway’s assessment, the measure can reduce one component of the cost of adding solar power: eligible imported equipment entering the supply chain. The effect on an actual quotation will also depend on exchange rates, freight, stock already held by suppliers, pricing decisions and the installation scope. Import-tax savings cannot be translated directly into an equal reduction in every project’s total cost.
The electricity demand at the site remains central. Strong daytime demand may allow more solar generation to be used directly. Supplying selected loads outside solar hours involves different decisions about system size, controls and storage. These operating choices affect both the equipment needed and the overall investment.
For APsolway, equipment selection begins with the intended loads and system design. Inverter documentation should be assessed for the proposed installation, while tax eligibility and local installation requirements are checked separately for the specific equipment.
The September measure offers a defined opportunity to lower qualifying import costs. Its practical benefit will depend on how those savings reach project prices and how well the installation meets the electricity user’s day-to-day needs.