Liaison Office Setup in BangladeshWithout the Paperwork Headaches
Full BIDA Approval, RJSC Registration & Bank Account — Handled End to End
Get a legal presence in Bangladesh in 45 working days. No travel to Dhaka. No juggling multiple vendors. One team owns the entire process.
You Want a Presence in Bangladesh. The Paperwork Wants to Stop You.
Your company has good reasons to be here — supply chain proximity, market intelligence, partner relationships, or government liaison work. A liaison office is the lightest, most cost-effective way to make that happen.
But then you start looking into the setup process, and things get complicated fast.
BIDA Application Maze
The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority controls liaison office approvals, and their application process has specific formatting requirements, prescribed forms, and supporting document mandates that aren’t clearly documented online. One incomplete field or missing attachment sends you back to the start of the queue.
Document Attestation Confusion
Every document from your home country needs to be authenticated — either by the Bangladesh Embassy or High Commission in your country, your country’s mission in Bangladesh, or a recognized Chamber of Commerce. Each route has different timelines, fees, and quirks. Getting this wrong delays everything.
Banking From Abroad
Your liaison office needs a bank account funded exclusively through inward remittance from the parent company. Opening a corporate bank account in Bangladesh remotely — with the right purpose codes, compliance paperwork, and USD 50,000 initial transfer — is not straightforward if you’ve never done it.
Activity Restrictions Nobody Explains
What exactly can a liaison office do? What will get you in trouble? The line between “promoting products” and “selling products” might seem obvious, but Bangladesh regulators interpret it strictly. One wrong move and your office faces penalties or shutdown.
Every foreign company we work with has faced some version of this. The ones who got their office running on schedule found a partner who knew the system inside out and handled it end to end.
A Liaison Office Makes Sense If You’re…
Exploring Bangladesh Before Full Investment
You’re interested in the market but not ready to commit to a subsidiary or branch. A liaison office gives you a legal, low-cost physical presence to conduct market research, attend trade events, and build relationships while you evaluate the opportunity.
Maintaining Supply Chain Oversight
Your company sources from Bangladeshi manufacturers and you need local staff to manage quality control, supplier relationships, and logistics coordination without running commercial operations.
Building Government & Industry Relationships
You need a local office to engage with Bangladesh government agencies, attend regulatory meetings, and represent your company at conferences and trade shows.
Running Market Research & Feasibility Studies
Gather market intelligence, study local demand, analyze competitors, and produce feasibility reports for your board’s decision-making before committing.
Providing Technical Support & Coordination
Your parent company sells technology or equipment and you need a Bangladesh-based team for pre-sale technical information and installation coordination.
Testing the Waters for a Future Upgrade
Many companies start here, then upgrade to a branch office or subsidiary. We handle that transition too.
Know the Rules Before You Start
A liaison office in Bangladesh operates under strict activity limitations set by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA). Understanding these boundaries is non-negotiable. Violations can result in penalties, closure, or complications with future business activities.
Permitted Activities
8 activities allowedNot Permitted
7 restrictionsIf your planned activities require revenue generation, import/export, or manufacturing — you need a different structure. Branch Office Setup → | Subsidiary Company Setup →
Eligibility Requirements for Liaison Office Setup
BIDA has two core requirements your parent company must meet before applying. These are non-negotiable.
Company Age Requirement
Your parent company must be at least 1 year old. You’ll need to provide audited financial statements for the most recent financial year as proof of operations and financial standing.
Fund Transfer Commitment
Your liaison office must transfer a minimum of USD 50,000 to Bangladesh within 2 months of receiving BIDA permission. This covers operational expenses via inward remittance. Miss the deadline and an additional 5% penalty applies.
How We Set Up Your Liaison Office — Step by Step
Six steps from application to operating office. We manage every step so you don’t have to track any of it.
BIDA Application & Approval
We prepare and submit your complete application package to the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority — prescribed forms, supporting documents, and a cover letter explaining your proposed liaison activities. BIDA reviews and issues a permission letter upon approval.
RJSC Foreign Company Registration
Once BIDA approves, we register your parent company with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC) as a foreign company. This gives your liaison office legal standing under the Companies Act 1994.
Tax Registration (E-TIN)
We obtain your Electronic Tax Identification Number from the National Board of Revenue. Your liaison office doesn’t generate taxable income, but tax registration is required for compliance purposes.
Bank Account Opening & Fund Transfer
We coordinate with a Bangladeshi bank to open your corporate bank account. Your parent company then transfers the minimum USD 50,000 via inward remittance to cover operational expenses — rent, salaries, utilities, and office costs.
Bangladesh Bank Reporting (Section 18A)
We file the required report with Bangladesh Bank under Section 18A of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947. This notifies the central bank about your liaison office’s foreign exchange transactions.
VAT/BIN Registration & Office Activation
We register for VAT with the National Board of Revenue, obtain your BIN, run final compliance checks, and hand over all certificates, credentials, and access.
Documents Required from the Parent Company
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Board ResolutionApproving the establishment of a liaison office in Bangladesh
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Audited Financial StatementsLatest financial year of the parent company
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Organizational StructureProposed organogram of the liaison office
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Activity DescriptionParent company activities and proposed liaison activities in Bangladesh
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Director InformationNames, nationalities, and passport copies of parent company directors
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Memorandum of Association (MoA)Certified copy from the parent company
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Articles of Association (AoA)Certified copy from the parent company
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Certificate of IncorporationCertified copy from the country of origin
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Power of AttorneyAuthorizing submission of the application on your behalf
Document Authentication — Read This Carefully
All documents must be signed and attested by the parent company’s CEO, Managing Director, Chairman, or Director. After that, they must be authenticated through one of three channels:
We guide you on which attestation route is fastest and most cost-effective for your specific country.
Setup Timeline & Investment for Your Liaison Office
Everything Included. No Surprises.
Our professional service fee covers the full process — from initial consultation and BIDA application through RJSC registration, bank account opening, and post-registration compliance filings.
What Makes This Different
Chartered Accountant Firm
Khan Akber & Co. is registered with ICAB and a member of Allinial Global — an international network of accounting and consulting firms. Professional standards, not freelancer quality.
Zero Travel Required
We handle every government interaction, bank meeting, and document submission. You never visit Bangladesh during setup.
Predictable Timelines
We know exactly how long BIDA takes and which banks move fastest. Realistic timeline on day one.
Government Relationships
Our team works directly with BIDA, RJSC, NBR, and Bangladesh Bank daily. In-person follow-ups, not email chains.
One Point of Contact
Dedicated relationship manager from start to finish. No handoffs. One person, one number, 24h response.
Beyond Setup: Ongoing Compliance
After registration, we manage annual BIDA renewals, tax filings, VAT returns, and Bangladesh Bank reporting. Most clients keep us on retainer so they never miss a deadline.
We Work With Foreign Companies Across These Sectors
Garments & Textiles
Quality inspection offices, buyer liaison, supply chain coordination
Manufacturing & Engineering
Pre-investment research, vendor management, technical coordination
Pharma & Healthcare
Market study offices, regulatory intelligence gathering
Technology & IT
Market entry exploration, client relationship management
Construction & Infrastructure
Government project liaison, tender coordination
Energy & Natural Resources
Regulatory liaison, project monitoring, stakeholder coordination
Trading & Logistics
Supplier relationship management, shipping coordination
Financial Services
Market research, banking intelligence, partner identification
Common Questions for
Liaison Office Setup in Bangladesh
A liaison office cannot engage in any commercial or revenue-generating activities. It exists for communication, market research, and coordination only. A branch office can conduct commercial operations within the scope approved by BIDA and the Inter-Ministerial Committee. If you need to invoice clients, sign commercial contracts, or generate revenue in Bangladesh, you need a branch office or subsidiary.
A liaison office is not a separate legal entity. It’s an extension of your foreign parent company with very limited permitted activities. A subsidiary company is an independent legal entity registered under Bangladesh’s Companies Act 1994 that can trade, manufacture, hire, sign contracts, earn revenue, and access local bank financing. A liaison office is for watching and learning. A subsidiary is for operating.
Government fees start at approximately USD 300. Professional service fees depend on the complexity of your case. We provide a fixed-price quote after the initial consultation. There are no hourly charges or hidden fees.
No. This is the most important restriction. A liaison office cannot invoice clients, collect payments, enter into commercial contracts, or generate any form of income within Bangladesh. All operational expenses must be funded through inward remittance from the parent company abroad.
Within 2 months of receiving BIDA permission, your parent company must transfer a minimum of USD 50,000 to the liaison office’s bank account in Bangladesh via inward remittance. This money covers operational expenses. If you miss this deadline, an additional 5% penalty amount must be remitted.
BIDA typically grants permission for a fixed term (usually 3 years). Before the expiry of the current term, you must apply for renewal. We track renewal deadlines and handle the entire process for you so there’s no lapse in authorization.
No. We manage the entire process remotely. Your involvement is limited to providing documents, reviewing drafts, and authorizing the bank transfer. You don’t need to visit any government office in Bangladesh.
After registration, your liaison office needs ongoing compliance: annual BIDA renewals, tax filings (even though there’s no revenue), VAT returns, and Bangladesh Bank reporting. We offer retainer packages for ongoing compliance management.
Yes. Many foreign companies start with a liaison office to test the market, then upgrade to a branch office or subsidiary when they’re ready for commercial operations. We handle the full transition process, including the new BIDA application and RJSC registration.
There’s no hard cap set by BIDA, but the expectation is that your office will hire local personnel for day-to-day operations. Foreign nationals working at the liaison office will need work permits approved by BIDA and security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs. A reasonable ratio of foreign to local staff is expected.
Ready to Open Your Liaison Office in Bangladesh?
Tell us about your parent company and what you’re planning in Bangladesh. We’ll review your requirements and send you a detailed proposal — including timeline, document checklist, and a fixed-price quote — within 24 hours.
Schedule a Free Consultation