Invest Bangladesh targets 14-day business licensing to fast-track investment

Invest Bangladesh is moving to slash bureaucratic delays in starting and expanding businesses by introducing a 14-day framework for business licensing, while bringing investment-related approvals and services under a single digital platform.

The newly formed investment development agency said it is working to make investment approvals faster, simpler and more predictable as it seeks to create a more investor-friendly business environment.

Invest Bangladesh disclosed the plan in a press release on Sunday outlining its initial activities, investor services and arrangements for employees following the merger of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) and Public Private Partnership Authority (PPPA).

Under the Invest Bangladesh Act, 2026, the authority has been given scope to set specific procedures and timeframes for licences, approvals and government services. The proposed 14-day licensing framework is intended to cut administrative delays and make it easier for entrepreneurs to launch businesses.

The agency will also provide investors with support in securing regulatory approvals, identifying suitable investment locations and resolving administrative and infrastructure-related obstacles to business expansion.

Meanwhile, The government has appointed Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun as Chairman of the Invest Bangladesh Authority under the Prime Minister's Office for a one-year term on a contractual basis.
The appointment was announced in a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration, signed by its Deputy Secretary Md Golam Rabbani.

According to the notification, Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun has been appointed as chairman of the Invest Bangladesh Authority for one year from the date of his joining, in accordance with sub-section (5) of Section 4 of the Invest Bangladesh Act, 2026.

At the centre of the reform will be BanglaBiz, the country’s single digital platform for investment services. Invest Bangladesh said it would continue operating and expanding the platform, allowing entrepreneurs to apply online for business licences and permits and access government services within prescribed deadlines.

The new legal framework also provides greater scope for expanding single-window clearance, one-stop services and online approvals, reducing the need for investors to shuttle between multiple government offices to obtain separate permissions.

Invest Bangladesh Chairman Ashik Chowdhury said the initiative goes beyond simply combining three government agencies and aims to fundamentally reorganise public services around investors.

“This is not just a merger of three organisations. Our goal is to make government functions more effective by putting investors at the centre,” he said.

“By bringing together our capabilities, we want to make responsibilities and accountability clearer throughout the investment journey and provide more coordinated support.”

The authority said the merger would create a larger and stronger organisation by combining the experience and capabilities of its predecessor agencies.

Economic zones will receive particular attention under the new framework because they offer investors better access to essential infrastructure, including electricity, gas, water and transport networks. However, Invest Bangladesh said investment support would also remain available for projects outside economic zones, depending on their nature and investors’ requirements.

The new law has also created a legal framework to put unused government land, facilities, shares and other rights and assets to productive use for investment and business activities, potentially opening additional avenues for private investment.

The government had earlier set a 180-day deadline for implementing its commitment to build a faster and more predictable business environment. Invest Bangladesh said it would publish a progress report on the commitments announced in March before the deadline expires.

The agency has also moved to provide clarity on the fate of employees affected by the institutional merger.

Regular employees of BIDA, BEZA and PPPA will be absorbed into Invest Bangladesh in equivalent positions, with continuity of service and existing benefits retained. Consultants, outsourced workers and daily-wage employees will continue under their existing contracts or orders.

The 14-day licensing target, if implemented effectively, could mark a significant shift in Bangladesh’s investment regime, where lengthy approval procedures, overlapping regulatory requirements and repeated visits to government offices have long been cited as major barriers to doing business.

The real test, however, will be whether the new framework can translate the promised speed and predictability into measurable reductions in approval times and administrative costs for investors.