The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) on Tuesday launched e-licencing system for energy sector companies and organisations to ensure hassle-free service delivery by reducing time and cost.
From now on, companies producing, importing, distributing and using electricity, gas and other petroleum products can apply for new licence or renewal of existing ones online.
The commission launched the online service as part of observing 'E-Licencing Service Week' at its auditorium in the TCB building in the city's Karwan Bazar area.
Presided over by BERC Chairman Monowar Islam, the programme was also addressed by BERC members Rahman Murshed, Mahmudul Huq Bhuiyan, Md Abdul Aziz Khan and Md Mizanur Rahman, BERC assistant director (Gas and ICT) Rezaul Haque and TechnoVista Ltd director Navidul Huq.
Delivering his speech, the BERC chairman said Bangladesh had been lagging behind in the Ease of Doing Business Index prepared by the World Bank due to slow and paper-based service delivery.
Due to digitisation and simplification of government services and dynamism of different state departments, the country might improve its ranking significantly, he said citing news reports.
However, Mr Islam said the country still needed to go a long way in terms of improving business environment further and making the services available online.
He said the e-licencing service would help the businesses apply for new licences or renewal of the existing ones sitting in their offices and thus save their time and cost.
The businesses, however, will still have to pay the licensing fees through pay order by appearing in the office concerned in person as BERC is yet to introduce any online payment facility in their system, BERC officials said.
Responding to a question, BERC assistant director Haque said if all the relevant documents are attached correctly in the online application form, the licence will be issued within 15 days.
TechnoVista Ltd has developed the software for BERC.
