The government will gradually integrate trade licence services of city corporations and municipalities with the national investment service system to make business services faster and easier, reports BSS.
The move will allow entrepreneurs to apply for trade licences, pay fees, renew licences, obtain approvals and track applications online, reducing visits to local offices.
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told Parliament that the government is also expanding bilateral investment treaties and improving the implementation of double taxation avoidance agreements.
“The effectiveness and implementation progress of existing agreements will be reviewed regularly,” he said, adding that plug-and-play industrial facilities will be introduced in selected industrial and economic zones to help investors start operations quickly.
He also said investment-related approvals, verification and consultation processes will be simplified and made fully traceable online.
“The security clearance process for foreign employees will also be made online and time-bound. This will reduce unnecessary delays while ensuring that essential security checks are properly completed,” he added.
The announcement follows MoUs signed in January 2026 between the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and 11 institutions under its One Stop Service (OSS) portal.
The agreements include four banks—Rupali Bank PLC, Dhaka Bank PLC, Bank Asia PLC and Bengal Commercial Bank PLC—and seven city corporations: Rajshahi, Khulna, Mymensingh, Barishal, Cumilla, Gazipur and Narayanganj.
With the latest additions, the number of institutions connected to the OSS platform has risen to 52.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
