Dhaka, Oct 17 (V7N) – Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir today said the government plans to introduce a single online portal for issuing trade licences and a coordinated inspection system to reduce administrative complexities, save business costs and improve the investment climate.
Under the proposed system, entrepreneurs will be able to apply for trade licences, submit necessary documents and pay prescribed fees through a single online platform, enabling them to obtain licences without visiting multiple offices.
The minister made the remarks at the first meeting of the National Task Force on Deregulation and Business Facilitation, held at the conference room of the Finance Division at the Secretariat this afternoon. Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury chaired the meeting, which reviewed progress on initiatives to reduce the cost of doing business, remove unnecessary regulations and facilitate domestic and foreign investment.
Muktadir said trade licences are currently issued through separate systems operated by union parishads, municipalities and city corporations. Bringing the process under a unified online portal would simplify licensing and reduce delays and administrative burdens for entrepreneurs, he added.
He said the government is also considering extending the validity of trade licences and transforming the existing system into a "Business Registration Certificate" or a similar arrangement to make business registration more convenient.
The commerce minister also called for simplifying the renewal process for work permits and security clearances for foreign employees working in Bangladesh. He said foreign nationals generally come to work under legally registered businesses that pay taxes and operate under the responsibility of Bangladeshi directors or managing directors. Unreasonable complications in renewing their security clearances, despite the submission of applications and necessary certifications by the concerned companies, should not be acceptable, he added. He urged the authorities to work in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs to make the renewal process more transparent, efficient and straightforward.
The meeting also discussed plans to introduce a coordinated inspection system under the leadership of Invest Bangladesh to reduce repeated inspections of business establishments by different government agencies. Under the proposed arrangement, inspections covering building safety, fire safety and environmental compliance would be conducted jointly on a scheduled date instead of being carried out separately at different times. Representatives of the relevant agencies, along with officials from Invest Bangladesh, would participate in the joint inspections. The initiative is expected to reduce repeated visits, save entrepreneurs' time and money, and minimise administrative harassment.
The meeting identified five priority sectors for initial action to simplify business and investment-related approvals, permits and licences. The government plans to review existing barriers and streamline approval procedures in these sectors before gradually extending the initiative to other areas.
The commerce minister stressed the need to remove unnecessary restrictions, eliminate delays in approval processes and strengthen coordination among government agencies. He called on all relevant stakeholders to work together to ensure transparency, accountability and efficiency in public services for investors and businesses.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman and Invest Bangladesh Chairman Ashik Chowdhury also attended the meeting. The meeting was also attended by the chairmen of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), secretaries of the Finance Division and the Ministry of Shipping, the president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), the Registrar of the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC), and other senior officials. The meeting emphasised administrative reforms, expansion of digital services and stronger coordination among relevant agencies to make business and investment services more accessible and efficient.
