The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) has stressed the importance of stronger coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs to build a seamless, secure, and investor-friendly environment for foreign professionals and investors in Bangladesh.
BIDA Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury made the remarks on Wednesday at a high-level sensitisation session on investment facilitation and security coordination held at BIDA’s Multipurpose Hall in Agargaon’s Biniyog Bhaban.
The event, jointly organised by BIDA and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the TEPP-II project, was attended by senior officials from the Home Ministry, the Department of Immigration & Passports, and relevant security agencies.
“Our partnership with the Ministry of Home Affairs has come a long way, as we share a joint responsibility to ensure a welcoming and enabling environment for foreigners who choose to invest and work in Bangladesh,” Ashik said.
He noted that much of the work permit system, including BIDA’s permit services and the Home Ministry’s security clearance, has already been digitalised. “We are now working to digitalise the visa application process in partnership with the Department of Immigration,” he added.
Emphasising consistency across institutions, he said investors should experience a “seamless and harmonised process” whether applying through BIDA, BEZA, or other investment promotion agencies.
Home Ministry Additional Secretary Md Delwar Hossain said the ministry has successfully moved the entire security clearance process online in collaboration with BIDA. “We are now working to transition passport and related services to a fully digital platform,” he said.
Md Ariful Haque, Director General of BIDA’s International Investment Promotion Wing, urged field-level officers to share practical challenges and insights to help improve future policy and service delivery.
Under the new online system for security clearance, effective October 1, 2025, foreign investors and expatriate employees must submit applications exclusively through BIDA’s One Stop Service (OSS) Portal. If no objections are raised within 21 working days, clearance will be automatically granted. Failure to submit applications within the specified timeframe will render permits invalid.
BIDA continues to work closely with the Ministry of Home Affairs to simplify procedures, enhance transparency, and further strengthen Bangladesh’s investment service ecosystem.
