3.1. Overview of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Policies

Bangladesh maintains a highly liberal FDI regime, welcoming 100% foreign equity ownership in almost all manufacturing, service, and commercial sectors, excluding a tiny list of reserved areas (such as defense, security printing, and nuclear energy). Under the foundational Foreign Private Investment (Promotion and Protection) Act 1980, foreign capital enjoys absolute statutory protection against arbitrary nationalization, expropriation, or discriminatory treatment. Crucially, the newly enacted Visa Policy 2026 introduces a prestigious 'No Visa Required' (NVR) privilege for foreign nationals investing a minimum of USD 5 million, certified directly by the central bank.