Bangladesh has taken a major step toward reforming its investment promotion framework as Parliament approved the Invest Bangladesh Bill, 2026, paving the way for the unification of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), and the Public Private Partnership Authority (PPPA) under a single institution named Invest Bangladesh.
The new authority will become operational from a date to be announced by the government through an official gazette notification. Once launched, Invest Bangladesh will function as the country’s apex investment promotion agency under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The reform aims to simplify investor services, improve institutional coordination, accelerate project approvals, and strengthen Bangladesh’s ability to attract both domestic and foreign investment by bringing investment promotion, economic zone management, and public-private partnership (PPP) functions under one integrated framework.
According to the government, the unified authority will coordinate investment approvals, business registration, import and export facilitation, incentive management, industrial zone development, and other key government services through a more streamlined system.
A major feature of the new framework is the introduction of an enhanced single-window service, allowing investors to access approvals, licences, and regulatory services through a unified digital platform. The authority will also oversee the digitalisation of licensing procedures, helping reduce processing times and administrative complexities.
Executive Chairman of BIDA and BEZA, and Chief Executive Officer of PPPA, Ashik Chowdhury, welcomed the passage of the legislation, describing it as a landmark reform for Bangladesh’s investment climate.
He said the unified agency reflects the government’s commitment to improving investor services and creating a genuine one-stop service model capable of attracting higher levels of investment and supporting employment generation.
Ashik Chowdhury also noted that international organisations, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), had recommended consolidating the country’s investment agencies to improve efficiency and strengthen Bangladesh’s competitiveness in the global investment landscape.
The legislation forms an important part of the government’s 180-day reform agenda, announced in March 2026, aimed at improving the country’s business environment, accelerating industrialisation, expanding public-private partnerships, and promoting sustainable economic growth.
Under the new law, industrial areas, economic zones, and future free trade zones (FTZs) will operate within an integrated institutional framework. The legislation also establishes defined procedures and timelines for approvals and licensing, introduces simplified approval mechanisms for smaller PPP projects through relevant ministries, and enables productive utilisation of unused government land, assets, shares, and other public resources.
The government expects the unified authority to reduce policy inconsistencies, eliminate duplication of responsibilities among agencies, strengthen inter-agency coordination, and establish an investment management system aligned with international best practices.
Once the law comes into effect, the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Act, 2016, the Bangladesh Economic Zones Act, 2010, the Public Private Partnership Act, 2015, and the One Stop Service Act, 2018, will be repealed, with their respective responsibilities consolidated under Invest Bangladesh.
The creation of Invest Bangladesh is expected to strengthen the country’s investment ecosystem, improve ease of doing business, enhance investor confidence, and position Bangladesh as a more competitive destination for global investment.
