The government has appointed Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun as the Chairman of the Invest Bangladesh Authority on a contractual basis for one year. As the head of the country’s new unified investment development agency, he will be responsible for further coordinating efforts to attract investment, develop industrial zones and strengthen public-private partnership initiatives.
The appointment was announced in a notification issued on Friday, August 21, by the Contract and Foreign Employment Branch of the Ministry of Public Administration. According to the notification, Ashik Chowdhury has been appointed as Chairman of the Invest Bangladesh Authority, under the Prime Minister’s Office, for one year from the date of his joining. During his tenure, he will not be permitted to engage in any other profession or business, or maintain any employment relationship with any government, semi-government or private organization or institution. Other terms and conditions of the appointment will be determined through the employment contract.
Previously, Ashik Mahmud served as the Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA). He also served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Public-Private Partnership Authority (PPPA).
Three Authorities Merged
To make investment-related services easier and faster, the government took an initiative to merge BIDA, BEZA and PPPA into a single entity named the Invest Bangladesh Authority. As part of the process, the Invest Bangladesh Bill, 2026 was passed by the National Parliament on July 15. Following the law’s implementation through a gazette notification on August 20, the new authority formally began its operations.
The new authority will serve as the country’s leading investment development agency under the Prime Minister’s Office. Its responsibilities will include attracting domestic and foreign investment, facilitating investment registration and approvals, developing industrial and economic zones, and coordinating activities related to PPP projects.
One of the key objectives of the Invest Bangladesh Authority is to establish a one-stop service system for investors. Under the new framework, investment-related approvals, licenses, registrations, import-export procedures, incentives and other government services will be provided in a more integrated and coordinated manner.
The law also provides for bringing investment and business-related services under a unified digital platform. Through this initiative, the government aims to digitalize approval and licensing processes across various government agencies while reducing bureaucratic complexities and duplication of work.
In addition, the new authority will have the power to recommend visas and work permits for foreign investors and experts, assist with investment agreements, facilitate the allocation of industrial land, and advise the government on putting unused public industrial assets into productive use.
The government expects that the integration of the three institutions will make services faster, more efficient and better coordinated for investors. At the same time, the new authority is expected to play a significant role in increasing domestic and foreign investment, accelerating industrialization and creating employment opportunities.