The government has initiated a plan to gradually integrate trade license services provided by city corporations and municipalities with the national investment service system. This initiative aims to simplify the business environment and local business approval processes.
Online Application and Monitoring
Entrepreneurs will be able to apply for trade licenses, pay fees, renew licenses, obtain approvals, and monitor application progress online. This will reduce the need for repeated visits to local offices and minimize delays in service delivery.
Additional Initiatives
Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury recently informed Parliament about this plan. He mentioned that the government is taking several other initiatives to increase investor confidence, including expanding bilateral investment agreements and updating and ensuring the effective implementation of double taxation avoidance agreements.
Chowdhury stated, 'The effectiveness and implementation progress of current agreements will be regularly reviewed. Plug and play industrial facility packages will be introduced in selected industrial and economic zones. This system will pre-prepare land, infrastructure, electricity, gas, water, and road connectivity, along with preliminary approvals, so entrepreneurs can quickly set up factories and start production.'
Simplifying Inter-Agency Processes
The government plans to simplify inter-agency approval, verification, and consultation processes related to investment. The progress of these activities will be fully trackable online.
Online Security Clearance for Foreign Workers
The minister also announced that the security clearance process for foreign workers will be made online and time-bound. This will reduce unnecessary delays while ensuring proper security checks.
Memorandums of Understanding
Following the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with 11 institutions in January 2026, the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA)'s One Stop Service (OSS) portal now includes 52 connected institutions. These MoUs were signed with four banks and seven city corporations, integrating their systems with BIDA's OSS platform. This allows entrepreneurs to quickly, transparently, and hassle-free open bank accounts, obtain trade licenses, and access other financial and city corporation-related services.
