Business
1994 Companies Act with an active one-stop investment registry
Companies are formed under the Companies Act 1994 through the RJSC registry. BIDA provides one-stop registration for foreign investors, and 100 percent foreign ownership is permitted in most sectors.
Key rules
- Deadline — Annual return to RJSC within 21 days of the AGM
- Deadline — AGM within nine months of financial year end
Governing law
- Companies Act, 1994
- Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Act, 2016
- Foreign Private Investment (Promotion and Protection) Act, 1980
In practice
A private limited company needs two shareholders and two directors with no minimum capital, though foreign-owned entities in practice remit inward capital to support a work-permit application. Export processing zones and economic zones offer tax holidays and exemption from some labour provisions. Repatriation of dividends requires Bangladesh Bank clearance through an authorised dealer.