BIDA Permission Process/Procedure for local & foreign companies in Bangladesh:
Ease of Doing Business 2020

The economy of Bangladesh is a major developing mixed economy. As per the report, Bangladesh is the 35th largest economies in 2022 with a GDP size of US$460.8 billion. Earlier, the rank of Bangladesh was 41st, an improvement of eight rankings from that of last year. Bangladesh is a developing mixed economy and the second-largest economy in South Asia. The 2024 DB score is 45.0, which is 3.03 points higher than that of last year BIDA Permission.

Improvements were made in three of the DB indicators:

The Government of Bangladesh has taken a number of positive initiatives to drive DB reforms including developing Action Plans, forming Taskforces, coordinating reform initiatives among relevant government agencies, providing reform support to line agencies, conducting dialogues with private sector stakeholders, and monitoring reform progress.

The Government of Bangladesh, in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has been working on the DB reforms agenda. IFC has been providing necessary technical support in developing the DB Reform Action Plan and its implementation BIDA Permission.

The Government aims to achieve double-digit DB ranking by 2021 for which reform momentum requires acceleration and big-ticket reforms need successful implementation including amendment of Companies Act, Bankruptcy Act, Arbitration Act and Imarat Nirman Bidhimalas, enactment of Secured Transaction Bill, the establishment of Commercial Dispute Resolution Court, and introduction of efficient inspection systems for border compliance by developing risk-profiles of businesses (BIDA Permission)

Competitive Cost Base

In January 2010, JETRO conducted a comparative survey of investment-related costs in 29 major cities and regions in Asia. The following comparison is based on that survey with some selected cities. Bangladesh offers a truly low competitive cost base. Wages and salaries are still the lowest in the region, a strong business advantage. Yet this is an increasingly well-educated, adaptive, and peaceful population with many skilled workers.

BIDA Permission notes that the figures are not absolutes, but serve as a guide. Whilst the actual costs vary each month the general trends remain similar. No precise figures are shown with the graphs because they are only a ‘snapshot’ of costs on the day of survey.

Fiscal-and-Non-Fiscal-Incentives

Bangladesh offers some of the world’s most competitive fiscal non-fiscal incentives. BIDA can advise further on this matter. In summary and in most cases, these amount to the following:

Remittance of royalty, technical know-how, and technical assistance fees.

Repatriation facilities of dividend and capital at exit.

Permanent resident permits on investing US$ 75,000 and citizenship on investing US$ 500,000.

If you wish to set up an operation in Bangladesh, your best contact point is the Office of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), which operates under the Prime Minister’s office and is the principal government agency for encouraging investment. The BIDA Permission is available to assist you in numerous ways, including:

Enhancing Competitiveness and Investment Facilitation

Business Support Services

Assistance in Setting up a Business with BIDA Registration (BIDA Permission)

The BIDA Permission offers a range of valuable business-related services to the international and national investment community. The office helps prospective investors and promoted firms in obtaining official permits and documents required for conducting business, including visas, work permits, and permanent residency permits. The BIDA also assists investors in gaining access to utilities such as water, electricity, gas, land, and telecommunications

BIDA Registration for industries and Entity
The BIDA requried documents for registration

Information on Investment Opportunities

The Investment Services Center maintains comprehensive information on investment opportunities in Bangladesh, both by sector and by the district. Information and investment advice is readily available to both Bangladeshi and foreign investors at no charge.

One-Stop Service Center
The BIDA Permission coordinated the establishment of a One-Stop Service Center

Visa Processing Service for foreign Nationals in Bangladesh.

Experts/advisers/employees/individuals appointed in government/semi-government/ autonomous bodies/ projects and equivalent organizations. Or Individuals employed in local/foreign government/semi-government/liaison/Industrial/commercial organizations or other equivalent organizations. The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) has slapped a restriction on recruitment of low-skilled foreign workers in the country’s industrial and commercial enterprises.

Applicable to individual visiting for:

Main purpose/objective of the visa

Supply of software and machineries/ installation/maintenance/training/supervision/project visit

Duration

Maximum of Three Months

Extension in Bangladesh

Once the expatriate into Bangladesh with the short visa, he needs to obtain the work-permit from BIDA/BEPZA. The work-permit can be granted for a period of One to two years.

Then the expatriate needs to apply to the Department of Immigration and Passport (DIP) along with relevant documents for extending the visa.

The DIP upon receiving the Security clearance and the work-permit can extend the visa for the full employment period or maximum three years, whichever is shorter.

Visa Requirement under as follows: