As Bangladesh continues its journey toward economic transformation, strengthening and streamlining industrial governance are both timely and vital. In this context, the government’s ongoing initiative to unify key public-sector organizations involved in industrial and investment facilitation offers an opportunity to progress co-ordination, diminishes redundancy and enhances investor services.

Yet, one glaring omission remains: the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) has not been formally included in this proposed merger framework. Given BSCIC’s unique contribution to grassroots industrial development and its extensive nationwide presence, excluding it would risk undermining the broader goals of inclusive and balanced industrial progress.

Why BSCIC’s Inclusion is significant. Since its founding in 1957, BSCIC has been a central institution supporting micro, small and cottage industries (SMEs)—the true fabric of Bangladesh’s industrial base. It has built 83 industrial estates/ Industrial parks across the country, often in semi-urban and rural areas where large-scale investments are sparse. Its reach makes it one of the few agencies capable of delivering industrial services at the grassroots.

While BSCIC has struggled with bureaucratic inertia, analog service delivery and outdated operational frameworks, these limitations point to the need for reform, not exclusion. A thoughtful integration into a unified authority would enhance both relevance and efficiency.

The Present Challenge: Fragmentation and Investor Confusion. Entrepreneurs and investors today face the daunting task of navigating multiple government bodies—BIDA, BEZA, BEPZA, PPPA, Hi-Tech Park Authority and BSCICoften with overlapping functions. This results in:

Redundancy in operations and services; Delayed approvals for land, licensing and utilities; Investor confusion about whom to approach; Fragmented implementation of industrial policies.

Excluding BSCIC from the unification process would only perpetuate these inefficiencies, especially for SMEs that already face capacity and resource constraints.

Strategic Arguments for BSCIC’s Integration

1. Nationwide Industrial Reach: BSCIC's district-level presence can ensure that industrial growth extends beyond urban hubs to underdeveloped regions.

2. SME-Focused Services: Most entrepreneurs in Bangladesh operate in the small and cottage sector. BSCIC’s inclusion would ensure they remain central to national industrial strategies.

3. Efficiency through Integration: Merging agencies under one umbrella reduces redundancy in training, land allocation and credit facilitation.

4. Digital Modernization: Integrating BSCIC into BIDA’s One Stop Service (OSS) platform would digitize services and significantly improve transparency and investor experience.

5. Balanced Industrial Growth: A unified authority that incorporates BSCIC can bridge the gap between policy and practice, ensuring industrial growth is inclusive and regionally balanced.

Policy Recommendations

Formally include BSCIC in the proposed merger of industrial and investment authorities.Establish a National Industrial Development Authority (NIDA) with BSCIC as a dedicated wing for SME and grassroots industrial development.Digitize BSCIC’s services, integrating them into national OSS platforms.Ensure representation of regional officers and grassroots entrepreneurs in policy formulation and execution.Revise BSCIC’s legal and operational framework to align with modern industrial and investment needs.

BSCIC may be one of the country’s oldest industrial institutions but its mission is more relevant than ever. In a time when balanced, inclusive and transparent industrial growth is a national priority, integrating BSCIC into the unified industrial authority is not just practicalit’s essential.

A modern industrial ecosystem cannot thrive by leaving its foundational institutions behind. It is time to reform not sideline; to integrate not fragment. A unified and inclusive approach will help building a stronger industrial future—one that benefits all tiers of entrepreneurs across Bangladesh.