Written by The Banking Post
Bangladesh has attracted nearly $1 billion in investment proposals between January and May this year, signaling renewed investor confidence in the economy, according to the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida).
Of the total, foreign investors accounted for $550 million and local investors $450 million. Around 20 percent of the proposals are already at an advanced stage with agreements signed, land leases approved, or allotment letters issued, Bida officials said at a press briefing in Dhaka yesterday.
“The figures indicate rising investor interest in special economic zones, which remain central to the country’s industrialisation push,” said Nahian Rahman Rochi, head of business development at Bida. He added that the quality and sustainability of investments are as important as the volume.
Data from the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) show that about 60 percent of the proposed investments are still in exploratory stages such as feasibility studies, while another 20 percent are under detailed assessment. Officials say this staggered pipeline provides a realistic outlook for capital inflows over the next one to two years.
Beza is also developing a unified investment portal to improve transparency, bringing together project data, zone-specific updates, land availability, and approval timelines in one platform. “Currently, updates are fragmented across agencies. This system will standardise data and streamline decision-making,” said Major General (Retd) Md Nazrul Islam, Beza’s executive member for planning and development.
The authority has also launched a research unit, supported by international consultants, to identify promising sectors such as pharmaceuticals, furniture, rubber, and tourism. “Policy without data is directionless,” Islam noted.
Officials stressed that securing proposals is only the first step, with land acquisition, infrastructure readiness, and utility services requiring close coordination to turn commitments into concrete projects.
