DHAKA, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - In a major leap forward for the country’s investment climate, the BanglaBiz (Phase 2) Investor Portal has been officially launched, introducing a streamlined digital ecosystem designed to accelerate the ease of doing business.

The centerpiece of this update is the new business starter package, which allows investors to navigate five critical approvals—Name Clearance, Temporary Bank Account Opening, Company Incorporation, e-TIN, and Trade License—within a single application. 

This integration enables the completion of the entire business registration process in just three working days. 

The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA),  today launched the new features of BanglaBiz—marking a major milestone in Bangladesh’s journey toward a single, fully digitised platform for investor services.

The event, held at BIDA’s head office at Agargaon in the city, to launch the second version of Banglabiz was joined by local and foreign businesses, and showcased how investors can use the platform’s new core functionalities. 

Lutfey Siddiqi, Chief Advisor’s Special Envoy for International Affairs, attended as the chief guest, while Saida Shinichi, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, joined as the guest of honour. 

Special guests included Md. Rezaul Maksud Jahedi, Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Division; and Ichiguchi Tomohide, Chief Representative, JICA Bangladesh. 

The event was chaired by the Executive Chairman of BIDA Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun.

In his speech, Lutfey Siddiqi emphasized the urgent need for a shift in government culture toward user-centric digitalization, urging the next administration to prioritize 100% end-to-end online processes to foster private sector investment.

He highlighted that digitalization must go beyond merely putting current processes online; it should involve eliminating excessive and unnecessary steps.

Siddiqi drew comparisons to international success stories, specifically mentioning Estonia, where an e-residency scheme allows anyone in the world to set up a business in just 15 minutes. 

He noted that the Estonian government earns over 125 million euros in revenue through these online facilities, demonstrating how far global business and government processes have evolved.

Siddiqi lauded the BEZA and its Chairman as a role model for government organizations. 

He praised BEZA’s transparency, noting their practice of publishing a report card that openly details their successes and failures. 

The newly launched unified online portal, he stated, is a metaphor for necessary government-wide reform. 

“We don’t start with our processes... or the allocation of business between ministries. We start with the user," Siddique remarked, emphasizing that accountability and transparency must remain central to this culture.

Siddiqi concluded by stating that at a macroeconomic level, Bangladesh has no option but to streamline these processes, as private sector enterprise is the primary engine for progress. 

He described the current momentum as the start of a journey that requires constant vigilance to ensure it continues to benefit the public. 

Tomohide Ichiguchi said investors have long called for fast, predictable, and transparent government services.

“BanglaBiz is a concrete answer to those voices, by unifying business registration and approvals in the online system. BanglaBiz will be a game changer, transforming Bangladesh’s investment environment into a world class ecosystem,” he added.

 JICA remains committed to supporting Bangladesh in its efforts to create a more predictable, transparent, and investor friendly business climate, he mentioned.

Ashik Chowdhury said that investors need predictable timelines, transparent workflows and a single place to get things done. 

“BanglaBiz is being built as a multi agency service portal to reduce friction in doing business for both domestic and foreign investors. We are very thankful to JICA for its support in implementing this. At BIDA’s Governing Board meeting chaired by the Chief Adviser last week, we took the decision to designate BanglaBiz as the unified gateway for all government services related to investment,” he added.

He said, “ We expect this to be gazetted soon, alongside other key decisions. This platform is moving Bangladesh closer to global standards in digital investment services. We have a roadmap through 2030—and we’ll keep adding features that reduce cost, time and uncertainty.”

The first version of BanglaBiz was released on 28 September 2025 as an information portal. 

It linked the existing One Stop Service (OSS) portals of Bangladesh’s Investment Promotion Agencies, including BIDA, the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA), and the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), providing investors with a single digital entry point to essential information and services.

The launch event saw a high-profile gathering of senior government officials, private sector stakeholders, and development partners.

Beyond initial registration, BanglaBiz (Phase 2)  serves as a comprehensive management tool, integrating over 20 frequently required business approvals. 

These include vital permits such as environmental clearances, VAT registrations, factory and fire safety licenses, as well as import and export registration certificates, all accessible through a unified platform.

To further simplify the investor journey, the portal introduces the ‘Know Your Approvals (KYA)’ feature, which helps entrepreneurs identify the specific mandatory approvals required for their particular sector. 

For those seeking more personalized guidance, the RM (Relationship Manager) Connect service provides tailored support to navigate complex regulatory landscapes.

Technological integration is another highlight of Phase 2. The introduction of the BanglaBiz ID (BBID) acts as a unique business identifier, streamlining profile management and application tracking.

 This initiative is expected to set the stage for a Unique Business ID (UBID) to be adopted across the wider economy. Additionally, the platform features Single Sign-On (SSO) capabilities, allowing users to move seamlessly between BanglaBiz and IPA OSS systems using a single set of credentials, ensuring interoperable usage of services across different platforms. 

This digital transformation marks a significant shift toward a more transparent and efficient environment for both local and international investors.