Under the system, the Board of Investment (BoI) will be the sole authority to deal with the registration of such offices and issuance of work permit to foreigners engaged in private sector commercial and industrial ventures.

The BoI will also issue work permit to the foreign citizens who work with the industries in export processing zones (EPZs), according to a draft policy formulated by BoI following an inter-ministerial meeting held on September 18.

The meeting directed the BoI to prepare the draft for streamlining the system in order to make it 'hassle-free, easier and time-saving'.

The BoI has already sent the draft to different ministries concerned seeking suggestions. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) will finalise the report.

The inter-ministerial meeting observed that the government often faced problems in collecting income tax from the foreigners due to lack of information about them, including their salaries and incomes.

Besides, the meeting said, sometimes problems arise on maintaining state secrecy and security in absence of a proper database containing detailed information about the foreign citizens handled by different ministries.

The meeting also said it was unwanted and embarrassing for the government that different private organisations are recruiting foreign nationals in key posts although Bangladeshi citizens are competent enough to perform the jobs.

According to the draft guideline, a nine-member committee headed by BoI executive chairman will be formed to issue work permits to foreign nationals and renew the permits after reviewing their applications.

The committee will comprise joint-secretary level representatives from home and industries ministries, representative from foreign ministry, National Board of Revenue, Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), Bangladesh Bank, National Security Intelligence and a director of BoI.

"Once the committee is formed foreign citizens will be able to avail the work permit without any hassle from one place," a BoI official said.

BoI would receive and process applications from foreign commercial firms or educational institutions intending to set up their branch, liaison or representatives' office, or buying house in Bangladesh and place them to the committee meeting for approval.

According to the draft policy, Department of Immigration and Passport will issue visas without security clearance to the foreigners just after receiving of work permit from BoI. The home ministry will give the security clearance within 45 days.

"If the home ministry finds anything wrong about a particular foreigner, BoI will withdraw the work permit," the draft said.

BoI will however issue permits to foreigners working at EPZs on the basis of recommendations from the BEPZA.

Besides, it will develop a database containing information of the foreigners and it will be reviewed time to time.