DHAKA, April 8, (V7N)- The New Development Bank (NDB) is set to invest $1 billion in Bangladesh over the next year, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun announced today.

Speaking at the second day of the Investment Summit in Dhaka, Chowdhury Ashik confirmed that NDB has already invested approximately $300 million in the country. He noted that the bank plans to support both public and private projects through loans, equity, guarantees, and other instruments.

"We want them to invest not only in government infrastructure but also in social sectors such as hospitals and housing," he said, emphasizing the need for inclusive development funding. Chowdhury added that the government is actively encouraging NDB to consider broader investment areas.

The BIDA chief also revealed that foreign investors visiting Export Processing Zones (EPZs) and Economic Zones (EZs) have raised concerns about bureaucratic delays. "International delegates want to know what support they can expect if they invest here," he said.

Chowdhury Ashik dismissed the relevance of the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index, calling it outdated. “No country is free of challenges. We know where the problems lie and are working to fix them within the next one to two years,” he added.

Commenting on the recent global debate over tariffs, including US tariff policies, he said, “Tariffs are not just a Bangladesh issue—they are a worldwide concern. Everyone is navigating the same environment right now.”

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