License & Approval Support in Bangladesh

Most businesses in Bangladesh do not need a single license. They need a stack of license and approval documents from different authorities, and many of them depend on each other. A bank will not open a trade-ready account without a trade license, CCI&E will not issue an IRC without a BIN, and a factory cannot get certain clearances without a land and layout record. Getting the order wrong wastes weeks.

This page is the starting point. It explains the main categories of permits, which ones apply to which type of business, and how we plan the sequence so that each approval feeds the next. Detailed pages for individual licenses, such as the trade license, IRC and ERC, BSTI or NGO registration, are linked below.

The core license and approval stack for most businesses

Almost every commercial entity, whether a sole proprietorship or a limited company, ends up holding the same base set of registrations. These are the documents banks, landlords, customers and government buyers ask for first.

• Trade license from the City Corporation, Pourashava or Union Parishad where the business operates
• e-TIN for the business or proprietor, issued through the NBR online system
• VAT Business Identification Number (BIN) under the VAT and Supplementary Duty Act 2012, applied for on Mushak 2.1
• Certificate of Incorporation and constitutional documents from RJSC, for companies and registered partnerships
• Bank account opened with a scheduled bank, which in turn relies on the documents above

Trade-related and sector licenses

Once the base registrations are in place, additional approvals depend on what you do. Importers and exporters need an Import Registration Certificate (IRC) or Export Registration Certificate (ERC) from the Office of the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports (CCI&E). Manufacturers of products on the mandatory list need BSTI certification marks. Food, drugs, telecoms, financial services, recruiting, travel and education each have their own regulator with its own license.

Foreign-owned businesses usually register with BIDA, or with BEZA or BEPZA if located in an economic zone or EPZ, and need those approvals before work permits and remittance-related filings can proceed.

• IRC (commercial or industrial) and ERC from CCI&E
• BSTI product certification (CM licence) and, where relevant, metrology registration
• BIDA, BEZA or BEPZA registration for foreign investment and industrial projects
• Sector licenses such as BTRC, DGDA, BFSA, Bangladesh Bank or the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, depending on the activity

Site, safety and environmental approvals

Factories, warehouses, hospitals, restaurants and many service premises also need approvals tied to the building itself. These are often the slowest items because they involve inspections. The main ones are a fire safety license from the Fire Service and Civil Defence Department, an Environmental Clearance Certificate from the Department of Environment based on the project's category, and factory registration and layout approval from DIFE under the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006.

Building-related approvals from RAJUK or the relevant development authority, and utility connections, may also be prerequisites. We flag these early because a missing occupancy or layout document can block several other applications.

How to work out which license and approval you need

We start with four questions: what is the legal form of the business, what exactly will it sell or make, where will it operate, and who owns it. A locally owned trading proprietorship in Dhaka may need only four or five documents. A foreign-owned manufacturer in an economic zone may need fifteen, each with conditions that affect the others.

The answers produce a license matrix: each permit, the issuing authority, prerequisites, documents, expected fees (as set by the current schedule), renewal cycle and the person responsible. That matrix becomes the project plan and later the renewal calendar.

Common mistakes to avoid

Most delays we see come from sequencing and mismatched details rather than from the authorities refusing an application.

• Using different business names or addresses across the trade license, BIN, TIN and RJSC records
• Starting import activity before the IRC is issued, or exceeding the IRC's value slab
• Assuming a trade license covers sector activities that need their own regulator's license
• Letting renewals lapse, which triggers surcharges and can block bank or customs transactions
• Signing a lease for premises that cannot obtain fire or environmental clearance for the intended use

How the process works

1. Scope the businessWe review the legal form, activities, location and ownership to identify every license and approval that applies.
2. Build the license matrixWe list each permit with its authority, prerequisites, documents and renewal cycle, and agree the order of filing.
3. Prepare documentsWe draft applications, declarations and supporting papers so names, addresses and activities are identical across all filings.
4. File and follow upWe submit online or in person, respond to queries, and coordinate any inspections with the relevant office.
5. Hand over and calendar renewalsYou receive a file of issued certificates and a renewal calendar so nothing lapses.

Typical timeline: A simple base stack (trade license, TIN, BIN) can often be completed within a few weeks, while inspection-based or sector approvals typically take one to several months, depending on documents and the authority's processing.

How Tax & VAT Associates helps

• A written license and approval matrix tailored to your activity, location and ownership
• Preparation and filing of trade license, e-TIN, BIN, IRC/ERC and related applications
• Coordination of fire, environmental, DIFE and BSTI approvals, including inspection readiness
• Consistency check of names, addresses and business descriptions across all records
• A renewal calendar and reminders for every permit you hold

Frequently asked questions

Related services

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.