Asian – Dispatch

The Bangladesh government is moving forward with a major overhaul of its visa system, focusing on digitizing visa fee payments and streamlining the work permit and security clearance process, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a workshop on “Work Permit and Security Clearance Process” at the BIDA multipurpose hall in Dhaka, the BIDA chief said online visa fee payment is currently being developed, which will enable applicants to complete the transaction from home, reducing the need for in-person visits.

“Substantial work is currently underway to digitize the payment of visa fees… This overhaul will allow for online payment and significantly improve the applicant experience,” he said.

Visa policy revamp and document reduction

Ashik Chowdhury also revealed that a broader refinement of visa policy is in progress to address long-standing inefficiencies. One notable improvement is the launch of online security clearance from October 1, which includes a drastic reduction in required documents — from 34 to 11.

“This is a significant achievement. Earlier, various directions often led to excessive paperwork,” he noted.

No compromise on national security

While streamlining the process, the BIDA chairman stressed that national security remains non-negotiable, and all procedures must align with that priority.

“We will not undertake any measure that might compromise national security. All agencies — whether it’s the Home Ministry or BIDA — are working in the same direction,” he added.

Unified investor experience

Ashik Chowdhury also addressed the need for uniformity across investment authorities, including BIDA, BEZA, and the Hi-Tech Park Authority, stating that from an investor’s perspective, they all represent Bangladesh.

“There’s no reason for a work permit process to differ between BIDA and BEZA. The investor is approaching the same country,” he said, adding that efforts are being made for coordinated service delivery.

Presentations and collaboration

The workshop featured presentations from National Security Intelligence (NSI), Special Branch (SB), Ministry of Home Affairs, and BIDA itself.

BIDA Director General Md Ariful Hoque reiterated the spirit of collaboration, describing all involved agencies as part of one team with a shared goal. He urged field-level officials to report practical challenges, so that future policy decisions can be more grounded and responsive.

“Field experience is vital to simplify future decision-making,” he said.

Officials from the Department of Immigration and Passport (DIP), NSI, SB, and MoHA also took part in the workshop, highlighting inter-agency coordination in improving Bangladesh’s visa and investment climate.

Source: Daily Observer