BOI Bangladesh: From Board of Investment to BIDA Registration

Many investors, banks and even foreign head offices still ask for a BOI certificate, because the Board of Investment was the face of investment approval in Bangladesh for over two decades. BOI was established in 1989 to promote and register private industrial investment, and its registration letters still appear in older company files, loan documents and visa records.

In 2016 the government replaced BOI with BIDA to create a single, stronger investment promotion and facilitation agency. This page explains what that means for you: whether an old BOI registration is still valid, which projects register with BIDA today, when BEZA, BEPZA or other authorities apply instead, and how the online process works.

What happened to BOI Bangladesh?

The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Act 2016 dissolved the Board of Investment and the Privatization Commission and transferred their functions, assets and records to BIDA. BIDA therefore inherits BOI's role in registering local, joint venture and wholly foreign-owned projects, recommending visas and issuing work permits, and approving branch, liaison and representative offices of foreign companies.

Registrations, permissions and work permits granted by BOI before the merger were carried over, so a company does not need to repeat a past BOI registration simply because the name of the agency changed. However, any amendment, renewal, extension or new application is now made to BIDA, and BIDA's current rules and forms apply.

Who needs BIDA registration today

BIDA registration is not a general business license; it records an investment project with the national investment authority and unlocks facilities linked to that status. Whether you need it depends on your ownership, activity and location.

• Companies with foreign shareholding that want BIDA support for work permits, visas and remittance-related facilities
• Industrial projects, local or foreign, that intend to import capital machinery or claim investment-linked facilities
• Foreign companies seeking permission for a branch, liaison or representative office in Bangladesh
• Businesses wanting to employ foreign nationals outside EPZs and economic zones
• Projects whose banks, lenders or foreign parents ask for evidence of investment registration

BIDA, BEZA, BEPZA and other authorities

BIDA is not the only investment authority. Projects inside an export processing zone register with BEPZA, and those inside an economic zone register with BEZA; each zone authority handles its own registration, work permits and many operating permissions. High-tech park investors deal with the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority. Some regulated sectors, such as banking, insurance, telecoms and power, also need licenses from their own regulators regardless of BIDA status.

BIDA registration also does not replace the basics: the company still needs RJSC incorporation under the Companies Act 1994, a trade license, e-TIN, BIN under the VAT and Supplementary Duty Act 2012 and, for importers or exporters, IRC or ERC from CCI&E.

Documents usually required for BIDA registration

Exact requirements depend on the type of registration and the current BIDA checklist, but most applications draw on the following.

• Certificate of incorporation, Memorandum and Articles of Association and latest Form XII and Schedule X from RJSC
• Trade license, e-TIN and, where applicable, BIN certificate
• Project profile showing activity, investment amount, sources of finance, production capacity or service scope and manpower plan
• List of shareholders and directors with nationality and shareholding
• For foreign equity, bank documents such as the encashment certificate showing inward remittance of share money
• Office or factory premises documents, such as a rent agreement or land papers
• Board resolution authorising the application

Common mistakes when moving from BOI to BIDA

Older companies and first-time investors often trip over the same points.

• Assuming an old BOI letter covers a changed project, increased investment or new shareholders without amendment
• Applying to BIDA for a project that sits in an EPZ or economic zone and belongs with BEPZA or BEZA
• Bringing foreign share capital informally, which leaves no encashment certificate to support registration or later repatriation
• Letting work permits or visas lapse while waiting on other approvals
• Treating BIDA registration as a tax exemption; tax and VAT incentives depend on the Income Tax Act 2023, SROs and the current Finance Act

How the process works

1. Confirm the right authorityWe check your location, sector and ownership to decide whether BIDA, BEZA, BEPZA or the Hi-Tech Park Authority is the correct registering body.
2. Complete basic registrationsRJSC incorporation, trade license, e-TIN and BIN are put in place, and foreign share money is remitted through a bank with an encashment certificate.
3. Create the OSS accountThe company opens an account on BIDA's One Stop Service online portal and authorises a representative to apply.
4. Submit the applicationThe project details are entered, supporting documents uploaded and any government fee set by BIDA paid online.
5. Respond to queriesBIDA may request clarification or additional documents; prompt, consistent answers keep the file moving.
6. Use and maintain the registrationAfter approval, the registration is used for work permits, visa recommendations and other facilities, and amended when the project changes.

Typical timeline: Once incorporation, trade license, tax documents and any foreign remittance papers are ready, BIDA registration through the online portal typically takes from a few working days to a few weeks, depending on the completeness of the file and BIDA's processing.

How Tax & VAT Associates helps

• Review of old BOI registrations and advice on whether an amendment or fresh BIDA application is needed
• Choice of registering authority among BIDA, BEZA, BEPZA and the Hi-Tech Park Authority
• Preparation of the project profile and document set for the OSS portal
• Coordination of RJSC, trade license, e-TIN, BIN and bank remittance documents
• Follow-up on BIDA queries and post-registration work permit and visa applications
• Ongoing compliance support so the registration stays aligned with your actual investment

Frequently asked questions

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Last reviewed: 6 October 2026. Bangladesh tax and regulatory rules change with each Finance Act, SRO and authority circular. This page is general guidance; confirm current requirements for your case before filing.