Bida adds 6 more one-stop services

The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) has added six more services to its one-stop service.

With this recent addition, 41 investment-related services – 15 services by Bida and 26 by 10 other organisations – will be available on bidaquickserv.org.

Salman F Rahman, the adviser to the prime minister on private industry and investment, inaugurated the event organised to launch the new services, held on Thursday at the Bida office in the capital's Agargaon.

Speaking as the chief guest on the occasion, he said even though the economy had come to a standstill due to the pandemic, it had since revived. Government services now have to be delivered to the people in coordination with the private sector.

Remarking that Bida had made it easier to get services with the expansion of online investment-friendly services, he said, "You will receive services from the government, but you will not pay taxes. That is unfair. In return for the services you receive, you must cooperate with the government in their revenue collection efforts. This will help accelerate overall development."

He added that foreign ships anchoring at Matarbari along the route of Padma Bridge is another milestone in the development of the country's economy.

"Matarbari will be another game-changer for us. A deep seaport like this is a timely initiative. This has been made possible thanks to the prime minister's visionary leadership," he said further.

There is a lot of discussion about Padma Bridge but Matarbari will play an important role in the development of the country. With the country now self-sufficient in power generation, investment possibilities are increasing, he added.

Bida Executive Chairman Md Sirazul Islam said the addition of services under one platform facilitates monitoring and expedites the delivery of online services. Harassment has decreased and investor interest is spiking.

Sirazul Islam said that the government is undertaking various initiatives, including building economic zones to benefit investors. He further said that our capacity had also increased and called on private entrepreneurs to boost investment in the country.

According to relevant sources, of the six new services added to the slew of Bida's one-stop services, three are from the Department of Environment (Expression of Interest, Terms of Reference, and Zero Discharge Approval).

Also launched are one service each of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (Newly Electricity Connection), the Dhaka Power Distribution Company (Newly Electricity Connection) and the Office of the Chief Controller of Imports & Exports (Import Registration Certificate -IRC) has been launched.

Ten more services are in the process of being added.

Bida aims to connect more than 150 service of government organisations through its slew of one-stop services. The company has already completed MoUs with 20 companies in four phases to coordinate investment-friendly environment in the country. The signing of MoUs with 19 more organisations is underway. As of 30 December 2020, Bida had registered 1,529 investors.

Bida is also offering the opportunity to make payment upon receipt of a service. Investors rushing to the office with files will no longer be harassed. Online monitoring will prevent any files from getting stuck on someone's desk. Completion of the investment process will be smooth and seamless.