BIDA signs MoUs with 11 institutions to expand one stop service
The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) has signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with 11 service-providing institutions to integrate them with its One Stop Service (OSS) portal, aiming to make business operations easier, faster, and more dynamic for domestic and foreign investors.
The MoU signing ceremony was held on Monday at BIDA's conference room in Agargaon, Dhaka.
Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of BIDA with the rank of state minister, attended the event as chief guest, while Air Commodore (retd) Md Shaharul Huda, Executive Member of BIDA, presided over the programme.
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The MoUs were signed with four banks and seven city corporations. The banks are Rupali Bank PLC, Dhaka Bank PLC, Bank Asia PLC, and Bengal Commercial Bank PLC. The city corporations are Rajshahi, Khulna, Mymensingh, Barishal, Cumilla, Gazipur, and Narayanganj City Corporations.
Under the agreements, the participating banks and city corporations will integrate their systems with BIDA's online OSS platform. As a result, investors will be able to access services such as opening bank accounts, obtaining trade licences, and availing themselves of various financial and city corporation-related investment services online in a faster, more transparent, and hassle-free manner.
Speaking at the event, Ashik Chowdhury said BIDA aims to create a system where entrepreneurs — from small business owners to large industrialists — can access all required government services through a single website and single login.
"We want to move away from the practice of submitting the same information repeatedly to multiple government offices. Countries that have succeeded in attracting investment have ensured data integrity across government agencies, allowing information to be shared seamlessly once it is submitted," he said.
He added that, while achieving full digital integration is a gradual process, Bangladesh is moving forward with strong commitment. Emphasising effective implementation of the OSS, he said launching systems alone is not enough, and stressed the need for regular monitoring, identifying investor challenges, and continuous service improvement through feedback.
BIDA launched its online One Stop Service portal in February 2019 under the One Stop Service Act 2018, and the One Stop Service (Bangladesh Investment Development Authority) Rules 2020, with the objective of delivering key investment-related services from a single platform.
Including the 11 institutions signed on Monday, BIDA has so far signed MoUs with 52 institutions. Currently, 142 services from 47 agencies are delivered through the OSS portal. A total of 215,699 applications have been processed so far, with more services expected to be integrated in the near future.
At the event, Jibon Krishna Saha Roy, Director General of BIDA, gave a presentation on OSS operations, while Abu Mohammad Nurul Hayat Totul, Deputy Director of BIDA, moderated the programme.
