Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) on Sunday launched BanglaBiz, a unified digital platform bringing all investment promotion agencies (IPAs) under one umbrella to facilitate domestic and foreign investments in Bangladesh.
The platform was formally unveiled at BIDA’s Multipurpose Hall in Agargaon with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi and BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun were present at the inauguration.
Speaking at the event, Lutfey Siddiqi said this platform would significantly reduce licensing complexities for businesses; through BanglaBiz, around 1.2 million instances of physical contact related to business and investment licensing could be eliminated annually.
“If the online system is strengthened, physical contacts can be reduced to zero. However, attention must be paid to avoiding server-related complications. Once full online capacity is achieved, offline licensing options will be withdrawn. This will resolve the longstanding hassle of visiting multiple offices for business licences through a single platform,” he said.
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Chowdhury Ashik said investors currently have to submit the same documents to multiple offices, often moving from one ministry to another for months due to paperwork-related complications. “This discourages investment in Bangladesh.”
Ashik also announced that following the launch of BanglaBiz, BIDA will introduce an NRB Desk dedicated to expatriate Bangladeshis, offering them maximum support in investing in the country.
According to BIDA, information on licences and permits is currently scattered across various government laws, policies and portals. BanglaBiz will consolidate these into a single platform, replacing nearly 60 separate government portals related to business services.
At present, obtaining approval to establish a business requires applications to four different government agencies through four separate portals.
Under BanglaBiz, this process will be completed through a single application on one portal. BIDA said the use of e-signatures will ensure that the entire process is completed without any physical contact.
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BIDA has divided the rollout of BanglaBiz into three phases. From the launch phase, entrepreneurs will be able to apply through the platform and start their businesses within three days, with pilot projects initially launched in major cities.
During 2027–28, a unique business ID will be introduced for all businesses through BanglaBiz, alongside artificial intelligence-driven services. By 2029–30, the platform’s services will be expanded to the grassroots level, BIDA said.