Bangladesh has attracted investment proposals totaling over US $ 1 billion from domestic and foreign companies within a six-month period from December 2024 to May 2025. The proposals have been submitted to key agencies including the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida), Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza), Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza), and Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority.
According to official figures, approximately 20% of these proposals have already reached the final stages, such as contract signing, land lease confirmation, and issuance of allocation letters. Bida’s Head of Business Development, Nahian Rahman Rochi, confirmed the data, noting that proposals received by Bepza amount to around US $ 320 million, Bida has received about US $ 630 million, and the remaining approximately US $ 70 million are distributed among other agencies.
Rochi clarified that these figures represent investment proposals, not actualized investments. “Each proposal will undergo a full investment review process, and only a portion is expected to convert into real investments, typically within 1 to 24 months,” he explained. He emphasized that this lag between proposal and implementation is a common trend globally, especially for large-scale projects.
The majority of the proposals, about 50%, are from foreign entities, with the remaining from domestic companies. Currently, around 20% of proposals have been finalized, while roughly 60% remain under preliminary scrutiny, including feasibility studies and early-stage planning.
Bepza officials announced that between December and May, land lease agreements were signed with 17 companies, collectively planning to invest approximately US $ 184.46 million. Notable among these is EPL (Export Link) Accessories Limited, proposing an US $ 8 million investment in manufacturing foam, cartons, and accessories at Bepza Economic Zones. Hamza Fibers Ltd has proposed a US $ 16 million investment in the Karnaphuli Export Processing Zone for readymade garment production. Additionally, KKY Canvas Ltd from Bangladesh plans to invest US $ 17.51 million in the Adamjee Export Processing Zone to produce garments and accessories.
In response to increasing investor interest and the need for transparency, Beza is developing a Unified Investment Portal to consolidate data on investment statuses, zone developments, land availability, and approval timelines. Md Nazrul Islam, Executive Member of Beza, stated that this platform aims to standardize data-sharing and streamline decision-making across agencies.
Bida’s Executive Chairman, Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, highlighted that improving the investment environment is their primary focus, acknowledging external factors like market stability and reserve balances also influence actual investment flow.
