DHAKA, Dec 24: Bangladesh imposed import duties Monday on more than 30 items to boost foreign exchange reserves and protect local industries, officials said.

The National Board of Revenue officials said the duties of between 10 and 25 per cent would be imposed on a number of “non-essential” items that are being increasingly imported.

The items include powdered milk, plastic-made furniture, fresh dates, cooking appliances, fresh mangoes, apples, chocolate, shampoo, perfume, imitation jewellery and shoes.

Bangladesh, hit hard by the global economic downturn and a subsequent drop in remittances from its citizens abroad, is hoping to boost foreign exchange reserves of $1.06 billion, worth only about one month of imports.—AFP