Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025 has kicked off Today at the Hotel Inter Continental Dhaka, aiming to spotlight the country’s evolving investment landscape, poised for transformative opportunities and unprecedented growth.
At the opening session of Bangladesh Startup Connect 2025, Tanveer Ali, Chairman of Constellation Asset Management Company Ltd, delivered the keynote address. The session featured a high-level plenary moderated by Sadia Haque, Co-Founder and CEO of Sharetrip, with panelists including Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of BIDA; Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Hon’ble Chief Adviser, ICT Division; Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, Governor of Bangladesh Bank; Dr. Md. Khairuzzaman Mozumder, Secretary of the Finance Division; and Shish Haider Chowdhury, Secretary of the ICT Division and Chairman of Startup Bangladesh Ltd.
Equity fund for startups
At the summit’s Bangladesh Startup Connect session, Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur announced plans for a Tk900 crore equity fund exclusively for promising startups.”We expect to issue a circular within a week,” he said, explaining that private commercial banks will contribute to the fund and act as equity holders. Additionally, the central bank will contribute Tk500 crore for co-financing, combining equity and lending options to help startups access loans.
Investment climate & global capital
Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of Bida, highlighted critical business challenges, particularly the trade licence renewal process.”For young entrepreneurs, a trade licence can be a major hurdle. Do we even need annual renewals? Why can’t it be like a birth certificate – valid for a company’s lifetime?” he said. Ashik, who joined the government after a career in investment banking, said Bangladesh is at a turning point: “We must bridge the gap between our domestic potential and global capital.”
Internet access & legal protections
Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb announced that internet shutdown provisions under the Telecommunication Act 2001 will be removed, ensuring no government can legally shut down the internet. “We have officially declared the internet a civic right,” he said, adding that the Cyber Safety Ordinance would be published by next week. Taiyeb also noted efforts to reduce internet costs to match regional rates and enhance usability. Additionally, outdated SOPs for shutdowns have been scrapped to guarantee uninterrupted access.
Personal data protection act on the way
The Personal Data Protection Act is set for finalisation by May. Taiyeb confirmed the government is consulting businesses, human rights organisations, and civil society to address concerns. By April’s end, further public consultations will be held before the law is formally adopted.
Startup ecosystem & investment
In his keynote address, Tanveer Ali of Constellation Asset Management pointed to Bangladesh’s high mobile data costs, which account for 2.4% of monthly income compared to 0.65% in India. Despite low startup investment relative to GDP, Ali noted impressive ecosystem growth, with over 1,200 active startups – a tenfold increase in the last decade. Bangladeshi startups have raised nearly a billion dollars from international sources, creating 1.5 million jobs across multiple sectors.
