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The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) plans to make trade licence renewal faster, easier and free from harassment, including introducing an option for businesses to renew licences for five years at a time.
DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam announced the initiatives at a discussion and exchange meeting with business leaders at the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) office in Motijheel on Sunday.
He said businesses that submit their renewal applications and fees should receive their trade licences on the same day.
“If a businessperson pays the required fee but does not receive the licence on the same day, the matter should be brought to my attention,” Salam said, warning that action would be taken against officials or employees responsible for delays.
He said the city corporation was also working to introduce a five-year renewal facility for businesses. A decision on the matter would be announced soon.
The administrator said complaints had been received from some businesses that their licences had remained unrenewed for months. He asked businesses facing such problems to provide written details, including when and to whom payments were made, so that the cases could be investigated.
DSCC is also working to modernise and digitise its trade licence system. The city corporation currently has 246,018 registered trade licences, although the actual number could be higher, according to its Chief Executive Officer Md Khaybar Rahman.
Rahman said the corporation was working to determine the actual number through a digital system and prevent fraudulent licences. He said fake licences were sometimes prepared manually, depriving the city corporation of revenue.
Salam said a one-stop service would also be introduced so that businesses could pay taxes and other fees and renew trade licences online without having to visit city corporation offices. The number of banks accepting revenue payments has already been increased, with more banks to be added if necessary.
The administrator also proposed discussions with businesses whose trade licences had remained unrenewed for five, 10 or even 20 years. He suggested forming teams with representatives from different markets to work with the city corporation to resolve outstanding renewal and payment issues.
DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed said trade licences were essential documents for businesses but entrepreneurs often faced difficulties because of inadequate information, unclear documentation requirements, repeated visits to offices and delays at different stages of the process.
He called for a simple, fast and hassle-free renewal system and stressed the need to improve businesses’ ability to use online services.
Rahman said trade licences and holding tax were major sources of DSCC revenue. In the 2025 financial year, the corporation had set a Tk150 crore revenue target from trade licences but collected Tk115 crore. The target remains Tk150 crore for the 2026 financial year.
The meeting also discussed traffic congestion, street vendors, battery-powered rickshaws, law and order and preservation of Old Dhaka’s commercial heritage.
Salam said traffic congestion was causing significant losses in working hours and hurting businesses and the wider economy. He said removing street vendors was not the only solution and that alternative arrangements were needed, while maintaining discipline on roads and footpaths.
Officials and business leaders agreed that greater cooperation between the city corporation and the business community would be essential to build a more efficient, transparent and business-friendly city.