Persistent implementation gaps in digitisation and inter-agency coordination continue to undermine trade efficiency and investment execution, belying progress in necessary reforms, officials said Friday about latest findings.
A high-level government body in a meeting Thursday noted such drawbacks with concern, despite progress in cutting red tape and speeding up investment decisions.
At the seventh meeting of the Investment Coordination Committee, held at the chief adviser's office in Tejgaon, senior policymakers reviewed ongoing reforms aimed at reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks, digitising public services and ensuring that approved investment proposals translate into actual investments.
Lutfey Siddiqi, special envoy to the chief adviser of the interim government and chair of the committee, said while external challenges such as tariffs and market access are largely beyond Bangladesh's control, internal policy execution remained firmly within the government's reach.
"Efficiency gains from better processes are immediate and tangible," he said, adding that weak implementation was eroding the full benefits of recent reforms.
The meeting was attended by Ashik Chowdhury, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) and the PPP Authority, Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Ahsan Mansur, Chittagong Port Authority chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman and secretaries and heads of key ministries and agencies.
Officials reviewed proposals including a significant expansion of pre-arrival customs clearance, a unified online business start-up package, round-the-clock digital payment services at Chittagong seaport and the introduction of a fully automated bond-management system.
A multi-agency mechanism was also discussed to monitor whether approved investment proposals are being implemented on the ground.
The committee acknowledges several coordination successes, noting that the National Single Window, launched by the National Board of Revenue after years of delays, has eliminated an estimated 1.2 million physical visits to government offices in recent months.
Automated truck entry to Chittagong port has reduced entry times by about 90 per cent, while digital tracking and cashless payments have improved transparency and efficiency.
Investment-promotion agencies BIDA, BEZA, BEPZA and the Hi-Tech Park Authority are now jointly tracking investment pipelines, and officials reported a record number of land-lease agreements following recent outreach missions to China, Turkey and South Korea.
However, the committee voiced concern that some government offices continued to run parallel manual processes despite having digital systems in place. Officials attributed this to weak monitoring of system usage and poor attention to user experience.
Siddiqi highlighted the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training as a positive example, citing its fully digital application and payment system supported by on-site help desks.
The Chittagong Port Authority, he said, has introduced a similar "agent desk" to assist users shifting to online services.
Looking ahead, the committee identified key priorities, including the launch of the first phase of the Bangladesh Business Portal by BIDA and a pilot of the Automated Risk Management System at Chittagong Customs House to reduce physical cargo inspections.
Stressing the urgency of reform enforcement, Siddiqi said, "The rules are already in place. What is missing is disciplined implementation. It is unacceptable that less than 5.0 per cent of cargo is pre-cleared when the figure should exceed 50 per cent."
Participants described the committee's data-driven and follow-up-focused approach as a break from past practices, but acknowledged that sustained pressure and accountability would be required to close the remaining gaps in digitisation and inter-agency cooperation.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com