Is Ephedrine legal in Bangladesh?

Legal status

Regulated as a chemical PRECURSOR (1988 UN Convention Table I — a methamphetamine precursor), NOT as a scheduled narcotic; a precursor in Class 'A', Serial 8 of the Schedule to the Narcotics Control Act 2018 (licensed import only).

Consequences if caught

No capital exposure — precursor handling (Sch. A, Sl. 8) is a distinct non-capital offence (2–10 years); the death penalty attaches to finished drugs (≥200 g yaba/amphetamine, ≥25 g heroin/cocaine), not the precursor.

If prescribed or medical

Also a pharmacy/prescription decongestant-bronchodilator medicine subject to sales limits; carry documentation for a personal supply.

Documentation

The Narcotics Control Act 2018 (in force 27 December 2018) carries the DEATH PENALTY or life imprisonment for trading, producing, transporting, storing or using 200 g or more of yaba (methamphetamine/amphetamine) OR 25 g or more of heroin, cocaine or coca-derived narcotics; financing or patronizing drug dealing carries the death penalty as the maximum. Below those thresholds: under 200 g of yaba draws 1–5 years (under 5 g up to 5 years); under 25 g of Category-A narcotics (heroin/cocaine) draws 2–10 years. Cannabis is controlled in a lower category (Article 19 lineage) with penalties from 6 months to life by quantity, but is NOT a capital offence. Yaba/methamphetamine, shisha and khat were newly defined in the 2018 Act, which also introduced a dope-test provision. There is NO medical-cannabis program. The death penalty is current and in force (the last known drug execution was in 2009 per HRI, but the 2018 Act re-armed it). Carry any controlled medicine with its prescription and confirm requirements with your embassy before travel.

Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Bangladesh’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.