Mohammed Badrul Ahsan :
The development of economic zones across the country likely to be delayed as Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) is facing acute shortage of manpower , sources said.
According to BEZA, only 70 officials and other staffs who are overseeing the whole affairs of the BEZA as against the required number of 180.
Of them, there are only 20 to 22 local experts working with the BEZA, forcing the government to depend on foreign experts and consultants for carrying out feasibility studies and other necessary works for building economic zones (EZs).
Responding to the growing demand for lands in the EZs, the authorities of the BEZA have increased its target for acquiring lands up to 0.1 million acres from 75,000 acres.
The government has decided to build 100 SEZs in different areas of the country, which are to be developed by the government or under the public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement.
“We have increased our land-acquisition targets to 0.1 million acres from 75,000 acres for meeting growing demands for lands in economic zones by investors,” general manager of the BEZA Md Mostaque Hassan told The New Nation.
He said, of the total targeted lands for building EZs, the BEZA has got 22,000 acres only in Moheskhali in Cox’s Bazar.
Besides, there are 30,000 acres of lands in Mireshwarai in Chittagong.
The rest of the targeted lands are in different parts of the country.
The BEZA official said they have completed organogram for appointing required manpower.
Around 10 million people will get jobs in the EZs once all these zones are completed by 2030, according to the BEZA official.
It usually takes at least five years for building an EZ if construction works go on in full swing, he said.
He said they are highly optimistic that 20 special economic zones (SEZs) will be completed by 2018 as a significant portion of the construction works has been completed.
He said the construction work was carried out separately by the government and the private sector in the zones. Hassan said they are in the process to give approval to 22 more private companies for developing SEZs.
“The government is committed to providing business-friendly environment to local and foreign businessmen to facilitate their businesses,” he said. He said local and foreign entrepreneurs will get lands at SEZs at ‘reasonable’ prices.
He said the government will provide dedicated water, gas and power supplies to the EZs.
The development of economic zones across the country likely to be delayed as Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) is facing acute shortage of manpower , sources said.
According to BEZA, only 70 officials and other staffs who are overseeing the whole affairs of the BEZA as against the required number of 180.
Of them, there are only 20 to 22 local experts working with the BEZA, forcing the government to depend on foreign experts and consultants for carrying out feasibility studies and other necessary works for building economic zones (EZs).
Responding to the growing demand for lands in the EZs, the authorities of the BEZA have increased its target for acquiring lands up to 0.1 million acres from 75,000 acres.
The government has decided to build 100 SEZs in different areas of the country, which are to be developed by the government or under the public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement.
“We have increased our land-acquisition targets to 0.1 million acres from 75,000 acres for meeting growing demands for lands in economic zones by investors,” general manager of the BEZA Md Mostaque Hassan told The New Nation.
He said, of the total targeted lands for building EZs, the BEZA has got 22,000 acres only in Moheskhali in Cox’s Bazar.
Besides, there are 30,000 acres of lands in Mireshwarai in Chittagong.
The rest of the targeted lands are in different parts of the country.
The BEZA official said they have completed organogram for appointing required manpower.
Around 10 million people will get jobs in the EZs once all these zones are completed by 2030, according to the BEZA official.
It usually takes at least five years for building an EZ if construction works go on in full swing, he said.
He said they are highly optimistic that 20 special economic zones (SEZs) will be completed by 2018 as a significant portion of the construction works has been completed.
He said the construction work was carried out separately by the government and the private sector in the zones. Hassan said they are in the process to give approval to 22 more private companies for developing SEZs.
“The government is committed to providing business-friendly environment to local and foreign businessmen to facilitate their businesses,” he said. He said local and foreign entrepreneurs will get lands at SEZs at ‘reasonable’ prices.
He said the government will provide dedicated water, gas and power supplies to the EZs.
