This country currently has a directory entry or basic profile only; a full handbook is planned.
01Overview
- Region
- South Asia
- Capital
- Dhaka
- Currency
- BDT
- Languages
- Bengali
- ISO code
- BD / BGD
Jurisdictions
- Bangladesh — National level; special zones and regulated sectors have separate rules
Macro indicators such as GDP and population are not included yet; see official statistics such as the World Bank.
02Market Entry
Foreign ownership
Whether 100% foreign ownership is generally allowed, and key exceptions. Allowed / conditional / not allowed / unverified.
Open policy; only a few reserved sectors are closed
- Applies to
- Arms, nuclear energy, minting and forest reserves are closed
- Jurisdiction
- Bangladesh
- Source
- MOFCOM
03Business Formation
Common legal entity
The company form most commonly used by foreign investors for a local operating entity.
Private limited company
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Bangladesh
- Source
- MOFCOM
Registration authority
Primary authority for company or commercial registration.
Registrar of Joint Stock Companies & Firms (RJSC)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Bangladesh
- Source
- MOFCOM
Foreign ownership
Whether 100% foreign ownership is generally allowed, and key exceptions. Allowed / conditional / not allowed / unverified.
Open policy; only a few reserved sectors are closed
- Applies to
- Arms, nuclear energy, minting and forest reserves are closed
- Jurisdiction
- Bangladesh
- Source
- MOFCOM
04Taxation
Headline corporate income tax
Statutory headline rate for ordinary companies, before incentives, exemptions, thresholds or special regimes. Always read with the conditions.
27.5% (general rate for unlisted companies)
- Applies to
- Listed companies pay 20% or 22.5%; some sectors differ
- Jurisdiction
- Bangladesh
- Source
- State Taxation Administration
Indirect tax (VAT / GST / SST)
Standard rate and type of VAT, GST or sales & service tax.
VAT standard rate 15%
- Applies to
- Rates of 5%, 7.5% and 10% also apply
- Jurisdiction
- Bangladesh
- Source
- State Taxation Administration
Dividend withholding tax (non-residents)
General withholding on dividends paid to foreign shareholders, before treaty relief.
20% on dividends to non-resident companies
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Bangladesh
- Source
- State Taxation Administration
Tax authority
Authority responsible for corporate tax registration and filing.
National Board of Revenue (NBR)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Bangladesh
- Source
- State Taxation AdministrationNational Board of Revenue (NBR)
Tax treaty with China
Whether a double taxation agreement with China is in force. Rates and conditions per the treaty text.
In force
- Applies to
- Rates and conditions per the treaty text and STA publications
- Jurisdiction
- Bangladesh
- Source
- State Taxation Administration (China)State Taxation Administration
05Banking & Payments
Exchange controls
Whether general exchange controls or cross-border fund rules apply.
Exchange control applies
- Applies to
- Foreign companies may open FX accounts for settlement and profit repatriation
- Jurisdiction
- Bangladesh
- Source
- MOFCOM
Banking & financial regulator
Primary regulator for banking and foreign exchange.
Bangladesh Bank (central bank)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Bangladesh
- Source
- MOFCOM
06Employment
Foreign employee work permit
Main permit types needed for foreign employees to work legally.
Investment or employment work permit
- Applies to
- Initially valid for one year
- Jurisdiction
- Bangladesh
- Source
- MOFCOM
Labour & work permit authority
Authority for labour rules and foreign employee work permits.
BIDA; zone companies via BEPZA or BEZA
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Bangladesh
- Source
- MOFCOM
07Trade & Customs
Customs authority
Authority for import/export clearance and tariffs.
Customs (National Board of Revenue)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Bangladesh
- Source
- MOFCOM
Main free trade agreements
Main regional and bilateral trade agreements relevant to Chinese exporters (not exhaustive).
Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA), South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) and others
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Bangladesh
- Source
- MOFCOM
08Investment & Manufacturing
Investment authority / agency
Body responsible for approving, registering or promoting foreign investment.
BIDA; BEPZA and other zone authorities
- Applies to
- The responsible body depends on location and sector
- Jurisdiction
- Bangladesh
- Source
- MOFCOM
Free zone / SEZ regime
Whether free zones or special economic zones operate under rules different from the mainland.
Export processing zones (BEPZA) and economic zones (BEZA)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Bangladesh
- Source
- MOFCOM
09Digital & IP
IP office
Authority for trademark and patent filing and registration.
Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT)
- Applies to
- Trademark rights are territorial; register locally or designate via the Madrid System (check WIPO membership)
- Jurisdiction
- Bangladesh
- Source
- WIPO
10Compliance & Risk
New York Convention party
Whether the country is party to the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, which affects enforcing foreign arbitral awards locally.
Yes
- Applies to
- Foreign arbitral awards can be enforced under the Convention, subject to its limited refusal grounds
- Jurisdiction
- Bangladesh
- Source
- UNCITRAL
Live risk monitoring
Geopolitical, conflict and trade-route risk events for Asia-Pacific, monitored by our sister site Global Risk Monitor.
View Asia-Pacific risk monitor
Global Risk Monitor · Geopolitical and trade-route risk monitoring
11Step-by-Step
- 1Decide model and jurisdiction
- 2Confirm licences
- 3Prepare documents
- 4Incorporate
- 5Register for tax
- 6Open bank account
- 7Obtain operating licences
- 8Start operations
Generic steps without times or fees; rely on the facts and official sources on this page.
12Official Resources
Chinese official resources
Country materials from MOFCOM, the State Taxation Administration and China's overseas commercial offices
- MOFCOM country investment guideMOFCOM · PDF (Chinese)
- Country tax guide (STA)State Taxation Administration · PDF
- Commercial office中华人民共和国驻孟加拉人民共和国大使馆经济商务处
- MOFCOM going-global platformMOFCOM
- Compliance & security alertsMOFCOM platform
Official guides are long Chinese-language PDFs updated on the publishers' schedules. Our structured facts cite local authorities as primary sources; use these guides to cross-check.