Staff Reporter:

In a major structural overhaul of its investment landscape, the government has officially launched Invest Bangladesh, a unified investment promotion and facilitation agency created by merging three primary state bodies.

The new entity began operations on Sunday following the integration of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), and the Public-Private Partnership Authority (PPPA).

Established under the Invest Bangladesh Act, 2026, the consolidated authority will function directly under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to streamline investor services and eliminate bureaucratic fragmentation.

A Unified Framework for Global Investors

According to an official statement, the creation of Invest Bangladesh brings high-impact commercial hubs—including IT economic zones, free trade zones, and specialized industrial estates—under a single administrative umbrella.

The merger aims to optimize unutilized state assets, unlock idle land, and accelerate the approval process for public-private partnerships, with a dedicated focus on small- and medium-scale ventures.

While economic zones remain a priority, the agency affirmed it will also support off-site projects based on investor requirements, leveraging unused public resources to accommodate custom industrial setups.

Under the coordinated framework, foreign and domestic investors can access business registrations, import-export permits, tax incentives, and statutory clearances through a single system. The agency is currently deploying an expedited framework designed to issue business licenses within 14 days.

Streamlining the Investor Journey

Ashik Chowdhury, Chairman of Invest Bangladesh, emphasized that the transition goes beyond a routine administrative merger.

“This is more than combining three organizations,” Chowdhury stated. “Our goal is to re-engineer government operations by placing the investor at the center. By unifying our capabilities, we are establishing clear lines of responsibility and accountability across the entire investment lifecycle.”

Operational Continuity and Workforce Integration

The authority confirmed that BanglaBiz, the country’s centralized digital portal for investment services, will remain the primary digital interface for all applications and regulatory processes.

Existing investment workflows will continue without disruption. Personnel from BIDA, BEZA, and the PPPA have been absorbed into Invest Bangladesh at equivalent ranks, maintaining their job continuity, pay scales, and existing service benefits. Contractual consultants, outsourced staff, and daily-wage workers will also retain their current employment terms.