In many cases, yes. Bangladesh generally allows full foreign ownership in manufacturing and processing, including food and agro-processing, subject to any sector restrictions and the specific licences the business needs. Registration and investment facilitation now sit with Invest Bangladesh, which took over the functions previously carried out by BIDA, BEZA and the PPP Authority from 23 August 2026. Projects in export processing zones are administered by BEPZA. Ownership of agricultural land itself raises separate issues. We review the business model, confirm current restrictions and structure the investment so that the agribusiness can operate, import inputs and repatriate returns.

It depends on the product. Many processed foods fall within BSTI's mandatory certification list and need a certification mark licence before sale. Food safety requirements administered by the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority apply across the board to producers, importers and sellers, including hygiene, additives, contaminants and labelling. Imported products face clearance at the port, which may include testing and certificates from the country of origin. Products making health or nutrition claims, halal claims or targeting infants raise further issues. We review the product, its packaging and claims, identify each approval and plan the filings so the launch date is realistic.

Contract farming links a processor or exporter with growers who agree to produce a crop to set specifications, often with inputs, technical support or advances supplied by the buyer. The legal documents need to be simple enough for growers to understand while protecting the buyer's investment. Key points include quality standards, testing and rejection, pricing formulas, recovery of advances, side-selling, and what happens if floods or disease destroy the crop. Enforcement against individual smallholders is rarely practical, so incentives and aggregator structures matter as much as legal remedies. We design arrangements that work commercially and legally.

Leasing is often the more practical route. Ownership of agricultural land is subject to ceilings on individual and corporate holdings, and conversion of agricultural land to industrial use can require approvals and may face local resistance. Title to rural land in Bangladesh can be complicated by inheritance, incomplete records and competing claims, so thorough due diligence is essential before paying any money. Foreign-owned companies need careful structuring. We verify title through land records and registration offices, advise on the most suitable tenure, and document leases or purchases so that the agribusiness has secure, financeable rights to the site.

Each category has its own regime. Seeds may require variety registration or approval and plant quarantine clearance. Pesticides and fertilisers must be registered with the relevant agricultural authorities before import and sale. Animal and fish feed, and feed ingredients, are subject to their own licensing and quality controls. Import permits, phytosanitary certificates and customs requirements apply at the border. Requirements, fees and procedures change from time to time, so we confirm the current position with the relevant authorities before filing. We help agribusiness importers prepare applications, respond to queries and resolve shipments held at port.

Through a combination of contract terms, payment structures and security. Letters of credit remain common for exports from Bangladesh, and the documents must match the credit exactly to secure payment. Open account sales carry more risk and may be supported by export credit insurance or advance payments. Export proceeds must be repatriated within the period set by Bangladesh Bank, so a buyer's delay can create regulatory as well as commercial problems for the agribusiness exporter. We review sale contracts and credit terms, advise on documentary compliance, and pursue recovery through negotiation, arbitration or court action abroad.

Beyond the usual corporate and financial review, an agribusiness acquisition needs a careful look at licences and certifications, which may not transfer automatically on a change of ownership. Land title, environmental clearance and effluent treatment, product safety and recall history, labour compliance at factories and farms, supply and grower contracts, and tax positions all deserve attention. Existing bank debt and security over plant and stock must be understood and then released or refinanced at completion. We carry out legal due diligence, negotiate warranties, indemnities and conditions, and manage regulatory filings so that the business continues operating without interruption.

Most disputes are resolved by negotiation once the contract position is clear, and many civil disputes now benefit from mediation. Where that fails, the choice is usually between the Bangladesh courts and arbitration under the Arbitration Act 2001 or an institutional seat abroad. Quality and rejection disputes often turn on testing and sampling evidence, so preserving samples and records matters. Joint venture deadlocks may require shareholder remedies in the High Court Division or a negotiated exit. We assess the contract, evidence and assets, and choose the route most likely to produce a recoverable result for the agribusiness client.