Budget aims to boost investment, foster business-friendly environment: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said that his government's first budget will focus on creating a business-friendly environment and attracting both local and foreign investment through a range of reform initiatives.

Replying to a question in parliament today (10 June), he said the FY2026-27 budget, scheduled to be placed in the House tomorrow (11 June), has been prepared with an emphasis on supporting businesses and generating employment.

"We have tried to create facilities for all kinds of businesspeople - whether traders or industrialists - so that they can operate smoothly and create employment opportunities," he said.

"As part of this effort, the government has taken various initiatives to attract local and foreign investors and simplify investment procedures," he added.

In a written question, Cumilla-10 lawmaker Md Mobasher Alam Bhuiyan asked whether the government had taken any measures to increase investment by simplifying investment procedures.

In response, the prime minister said corruption and money laundering during the previous "autocratic regime" had severely damaged the country's economic system.

"To rebuild the country, economic discipline must be restored alongside the creation of a business-friendly environment," he said.

The government has taken several measures to facilitate investment and trade, including speeding up import and export registration through online systems and updating both export and import policies, said Tarique, who is also the BNP chairman.

He also mentioned steps to remove non-tariff barriers for imports intended for exports and expand facilities allowing both bonded and non-bonded institutions to import on a free-of-cost (FoC) basis.

To ease imports, the government is simplifying payment systems and allowing imports through contracts without letters of credit (L/Cs), regardless of value, he added.

The government has also adopted trade facilitation measures in line with World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements to make trade processes faster and more transparent, he said.

The prime minister further said initiatives have been taken to reduce institutional complexities and improve efficiency in investor services by integrating the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida), Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza), Public-Private Partnership Authority (PPPA), and Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority.

At the same time, regular policy coordination with ministries and agencies has been strengthened, while capital repatriation and licensing procedures have also been simplified, he added.

The prime minister said the government is implementing various programmes to improve infrastructure and increase the efficiency of goods transportation to support investment and trade expansion.

These include simplifying logistics processes, modernising port and transport infrastructure, and accelerating the operationalisation of new economic zones.

He said new port infrastructure is being developed, and existing facilities are being expanded to reduce the cost and time required for international trade.

According to the prime minister, the Laldia Terminal in Chattogram is being prepared for operations this year, while implementation of the Bay Terminal project is progressing rapidly.

Construction of the Matarbari deep seaport is also advancing, he said, adding that once completed, large vessels will be able to dock directly at Bangladeshi ports, significantly boosting the country's foreign trade capacity.