The government is advancing plans to bring the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) and Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) under a single umbrella entity as part of a broader effort to streamline investment services and improve institutional coordination.
Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir disclosed the initiative during a meeting with a delegation from Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD) on Monday, according to an official press release.
The proposed restructuring forms part of a wider reform agenda aimed at reducing the cost of doing business, simplifying market entry procedures and accelerating Bangladesh’s transition toward a trillion-dollar economy.
According to the minister, the government is also preparing to introduce provisional licences with a validity of 12 months for six key approvals required to start business operations. These approvals will include clearances from the fire service, the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), and chamber memberships.
The move is expected to allow entrepreneurs and investors to begin operations more quickly while completing full regulatory compliance within the provisional period.
Officials believe the reforms will help improve Bangladesh’s investment climate, enhance ease of doing business, attract greater foreign direct investment (FDI), and strengthen coordination among agencies responsible for industrial development and export-oriented growth.
Business leaders at the meeting reportedly welcomed the proposed reforms, stressing the importance of faster approvals, policy consistency and institutional efficiency to support private sector expansion and export competitiveness.
