Dhaka, April 29 -- Bangladesh Bank (BB) on Wednesday instructed all banks to stop opening Letters of Credit (LC) or processing Telegraphic Transfers (TT) for the import of dietary and nutritional supplements without mandatory prior approval from the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA).

The directive, issued by the Foreign Exchange Policy Department (FEPD), follows a request from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to ensure the strict application of the "Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 2023".

According to the central bank circular, products including dietary supplements, herbal supplements, nutritional supplements, and medical or therapeutic nutrition items require mandatory registration or prior clearance from the DGDA for...