Digital govt services key to curbing informal practices

Digitalising government services is essential not only for improving ease of doing business but also for curbing informal practices, said Lutfey Siddiqi, special envoy to the chief adviser on international affairs.

Some officials tend to resist adapting to digital platforms as they are accustomed to offline systems where they can pocket unofficial payments, he said while responding to reporters at a press meet after the official launching of the BanglaBiz portal. The event was held at the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) head office in the capital yesterday.

“Online systems eliminate opportunities for extra income. But servers must remain fully operational to prevent fallback to offline services,” he said.

“Processes that earlier required multiple physical visits, paperwork, and several days of waiting can now be completed within hours if delivered online,” Lutfey Siddiqi said.

He referred to the success of the National Board of Revenue’s (NBR) National Single Window. According to World Bank estimates, NBR’s system has already eliminated around 1.2 million physical visits to government offices.

BanglaBiz is a unified digital platform developed by Bida in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), designed to provide faster, more streamlined support to investors by consolidating key information and services previously spread across multiple portals.

The platform was initially released in September 2025 with partial functionality. The official launch yesterday added more features to accelerate the ease of doing business. The entire business registration process on the platform can be completed in just three working days.

Emphasising transparency and accountability, Ashik Chowdhury, executive chairman of Bida, said the government will disclose data to show how many businesses started operations within three days via the new BanglaBiz portal.

“The three-day target applies mainly to businesses needing basic approvals, not those requiring extensive permits,” the Bida chief said. He noted that around 90 percent of processed permits were already issued within a single day.

Acknowledging delays in the platform’s official launch, he cited bureaucratic complexity, not lack of intent.

Rezaul Maksud Jahedi, secretary of the Local Government Division (LGD), said BanglaBiz will help reduce bureaucratic delays and improve coordination among agencies.

He highlighted LGD’s integration of trade license services under the Business Starter Package and the rollout of Unique Business IDs. Seven city corporations are already onboarded, with five more in progress, he noted.

Japanese Ambassador Saida Shinichi called the launch “a timely move toward investment facilitation.”

He noted that Bangladesh is shifting from aid dependency to trade and investment, with the upcoming Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) expected to further strengthen ties. He emphasised the importance of digital simplification to sustain momentum.

Ichiguchi Tomohide, chief representative of Jica in Bangladesh, said that the BanglaBiz system aims to streamline 100+ approvals, unify investor services, and enhance transparency by 2030.