DHAKA
Investment

Bangladesh Construction Permits: Factory and Commercial Building Approval Process Guide

Construction Permit System Overview

Building a factory or commercial structure in Bangladesh requires a construction permit from the relevant authority. The Dhaka metropolitan area falls under RAJUK (Capital Development Authority), Chittagong under CDA, and other regions under the respective local municipality. According to the 2020 Doing Business report, the construction permitting process involves 16 procedures and takes an average of 270 days — longer than the South Asian average of 180 days — with total costs running approximately 5–10% of construction value.

16 Steps
Procedures
Doing Business
270 Days
Processing Time
average
5–10% of Build
Cost
total fees
135th
DB Ranking
out of 190 countries
RAJUK / CDA
Authority
by region
Streamlined
EPZ / EZ
one-stop service

Comparison by Permitting Authority

Bangladesh Construction Permit Authorities (2020)
AuthorityJurisdictionProceduresAverage TimeNotes
RAJUKDhaka metro area16270 daysMost complex
CDAChittagong14200 daysSimpler than RAJUK
KDAKhulna12150 daysMid-sized city
MunicipalityOther regions10120 daysSimplest process
BEPZA / BEZAEPZ and EZ zones5–860–90 daysOne-stop service

Within BEPZA (Export Processing Zones) and BEZA (Economic Zones), construction permits can be obtained in 60–90 days through a streamlined one-stop process. For Korean manufacturing investors, locating within EPZs or Economic Zones significantly reduces permitting timelines.

General Site vs. EPZ / EZ

General Site Construction
Procedures16 steps
Timeline270 days
AgenciesRAJUK and 5+ agencies
Cost5–10% of construction value
EPZ / EZ Construction
Procedures5–8 steps
Timeline60–90 days
AgenciesBEPZA / BEZA one-stop
Cost3–5% of construction value
01
Construction Permit Process (General Site, RAJUK)
(1) Appoint architect: Must be RAJUK-registered. (2) Land use confirmation: Verify the plot is designated for construction. (3) Submit design drawings: Architectural, structural, fire safety, and sanitation plans. (4) RAJUK review: Compliance with Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) — 30–60 days. (5) Utility connections: DESCO (electricity), WASA (water), Titas Gas. (6) Fire safety approval: Fire Service & Civil Defence clearance. (7) Environmental clearance: DOE ECC (for industrial facilities). (8) Construction permit issuance: After all approvals are complete. (9) Construction begins: Permit must be posted on site. (10) Completion inspection: RAJUK inspection after construction → occupancy certificate.
02
Required Documents and Costs
(1) Land documents: Ownership deed, cadastral map (CS/RS Khatian), tax payment receipts. (2) Design drawings: Floor plans, elevations, structural drawings, electrical and plumbing plans (architect-stamped). (3) Structural safety: Structural engineer certification. (4) ECC: DOE Environmental Clearance Certificate (Orange-B and above). (5) Permit fees: Tk.5–20/sqft based on built area (varies by region and use). (6) Utility connection fees: Electricity Tk.50,000–500,000; water Tk.20,000–100,000. (7) Fire safety fees: Tk.10,000–50,000. (8) Total cost: 5–10% of construction value (fees + consultants).
03
Building Code (BNBC) and Key Standards
(1) Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) 2020: Integrated standards for construction, structure, and fire safety. (2) Seismic design: Zones 1–3 (Dhaka = Zone 2, Sylhet = Zone 3). (3) FAR (Floor Area Ratio): Residential 5.0–6.5; commercial 8.0–10.0 (Dhaka). (4) Parking: Mandatory parking spaces based on floor area. (5) Fire safety: Sprinklers mandatory for 8+ floors; minimum 2 emergency staircases. (6) Accessibility: Ramps and elevators mandatory in public buildings.
04
Construction Strategies for Korean Investors
(1) Prioritize EPZ/EZ: Streamlined permits with pre-built infrastructure. (2) Local architect: RAJUK-registered architect is mandatory. (3) Schedule buffer: Allow 30–60 days beyond the 270-day RAJUK baseline. (4) Parallel processing: Start design and ECC applications simultaneously with land contracts. (5) Korean contractors: Korea Steel E&C, Korea Construction C Construction, and others have local experience. (6) Budget planning: Allocate 10% above construction cost for permitting fees.

Construction Permit Acquisition Flow

Secure Land
Title verification
↓
Appoint Architect
Design drawings
↓
Agency Approvals
Fire, environment, utilities
↓
RAJUK Review
BNBC compliance
↓
Permit Issued
Construction permit
↓
Final Inspection
Occupancy certificate
Bangladesh Logistics Costs 2020Transportation, storage, and customs cost structures
Bangladesh Market Entry StrategyEntry modes and partnership approaches

Bangladesh's construction permit process involves 16 steps over 270 days, but can be reduced to 60–90 days by locating within EPZs or Economic Zones. Korean investors should appoint a RAJUK-registered architect and local law firm early, and pursue parallel permitting (ECC and other approvals simultaneously) to optimize the overall timeline.

Construction PermitRAJUKLicensingFactoryInvestment
Bangladesh Construction Permits: Factory and Commercial Building Approval Process Guide | Dhaka Trade Portal