New guidelines have been released by Bangladesh Bank to account for the weight of glazed (coated) ice when determining financial incentives for frozen shrimp and other fish exports.

When calculating eligibility for export subsidies, the amended rule will take into account the entire weight of the fish, including the glaze, or “gross weight.” This means that the frozen glaze (ice) used during shipment may be taken into account.

The circular, issued by the central bank’s Foreign Exchange Policy Department, says that the amount of ice eligible for incentive calculation will be determined at a government‑specified rate. To compute this, exporters must subtract the net fish or shrimp weight from the total (ice + fish) weight. The remaining amount, divided by the total weight and multiplied by 100, gives the percentage of ice to include in the subsidy formula.

Another key condition: the export payment must be repatriated from the same country as the shipment destination. If payment comes from a different country, it will only qualify for the cash incentive if it is made through the original order issuer or their recognized business partner.

Export companies will now also need to submit a certificate from the relevant trade association (such as the Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association) along with their application for cash assistance.

The move aims to clarify and streamline how cash support for the frozen fish sector is calculated, ensuring more precise and fair disbursement of incentives.