The restrictive action will apply to the importers who failed to submit bill of entries or customs-certified invoices within stipulated time against their previous imports.

The central bank imposed the restrictions with "immediate effect", asking authorized dealers (ADs) not to open new LCs under the circumstances.

The preventive measure was prompted by differences the BB found, in many cases, between the outflow of remittances against imports and the actual quantities of commodities coming in as well as duties and taxes received from the consignments, according to the circular.

In the cases of new clients, the Bangladesh Bank asked the dealer banks to make sure that their new clients had properly submitted bill of entries or customs-certified invoices against their earlier imports through their previous banks.

The central bank will identify such irregularities from quarterly reports by the Ads--and it will restrict opening LC against the importers concerned, said the circular.

The inter-bank foreign-exchange deals recently heated up, weakening taka against US dollar amid excessive demand for the greenback.

Central bank officials, however, attributed the currency crunch to increased imports mainly for capital machinery and intermediate goods as well as price hike of commodities in the international market.