Businesses may get licences within 7 days under single-window plan

Businesses may get licences within seven days under a proposed single-window initiative in Bangladesh's budget for fiscal year 2026-27, bringing all approval and licensing procedures under a mandatory online platform.

Under the proposal, the entire process — from application submission to licence issuance — would be completed within seven days, said Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury today.

The move aims to cut bureaucratic delays, reduce costs and make Bangladesh a more attractive destination for private and foreign investment.

Approvals related to fire safety, environmental clearance, land use and building design will be integrated into a single system, sparing investors from navigating multiple agencies and repeated inspections.

The government also plans to complete company registration within 48 hours, issue work permits for foreign experts within seven days, and provide investor visas within 10 days.

Applications may be deemed approved in certain cases if the relevant agency fails to respond within a prescribed timeframe.