The Bangladesh Government has announced plans to fully digitise the security clearance process for work permits of foreign investors and foreign workers through the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority’s (Bida) Online One Stop Service (OSS) portal by mid-September.
The decision was made during a high-level inter-agency meeting chaired by Bida Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Nasimul Gani, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, representatives from the Department of Immigration and Passports, security agencies, and investment promotion bodies.
Under the new system, all security clearance procedures will be processed digitally, with documentation requirements streamlined following a recent circular from the Home Ministry. Applications that include all mandatory documents and remain uncleared within 21 working days will be deemed to have no security objections, resulting in automatic visa extensions for the applicants.
Additionally, visa extensions and fee payments for work permit holders will be handled entirely online, eliminating the need for physical submissions. The government also plans to digitise the Visa on Arrival (VOA) fee system and introduce a new visa policy aimed at enhancing investor-friendly services.
An interoperable database will be developed to track the arrival and stay of foreign nationals, improving coordination among relevant authorities. This digital clearance process will be applicable to all applicants, regardless of the investment promotion agency under which their application is submitted.
Bida Chief Chowdhury Ashik highlighted that the digitisation of security clearance marks a significant reform that will enhance transparency and predictability in investor services. He appreciated the swift efforts of all involved agencies and announced plans to roll out further reforms on work permit and visa services by December.
Senior Secretary Gani emphasized the importance of close coordination between his ministry and Bida to ensure the seamless implementation of these digital processes. Bida, which regularly collaborates with agencies like the National Board of Revenue and Bangladesh Bank, will now initiate similar engagements with agencies involved in work permit and security clearance procedures to further streamline the system.
The move is expected to significantly improve the efficiency and transparency of Bangladesh’s investment and immigration processes, making the country more attractive to foreign investors.
