Badrul Ahsan :
The government is set to formulate rules allowing private and foreign investment in the unused land belonging to different government industrial-commercial organisations across the country.
Under the move, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) has identified more than 100 unused land and infrastructures of running and closed factories of the State-owned Enterprises (SoE’s) under the draft rules.
BIDA has already carried out survey on a total of 15 organisations’ land measuring 364.22 acres and found extra land of 110.93 acres there.
There are 15 industries and other structures on the land, 13 of which are closed while two in operation.
Of the total 15 organisations and industries, five are under the Textiles Ministry, six under the Ministry of Industries, three under the Ministry of Environment and one under the Ministry of Commerce.
An inter-ministerial meeting was held recently at BIDA headquarters to finalise the draft rules on the issue.
“The government is going to formulate rules for industrialisation in unused land and infrastructures belonging to different government
industrial-commercial organizations,” BIDA Chairman Kazi M Aminul Islam told the inter-ministerial meeting.
He added, “There was no law to use unused land and infrastructures of different governmental organisations. If the rules are framed, the unused land and infrastructures would be used for industrialisation properly that will ultimately increase investment.”
“The rules are being formulated in line with the recommendations from all stakeholders,” the BIDA chief said.
Representatives from Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), Bridges Division, and Ministries of Industries, Textiles and Jute, Railway, Road Transport and Liberation War Affairs attended the meeting.
“The government has already taken various initiatives, including a survey of unused land acquired to establish industry. As the land was not utilised or the factories were shut, the land would be reallocated to establish new industries,” said a high official of BIDA preferring anonymity.
Earlier, a committee headed by former chairman of the Board of Investment (BOI) had surveyed 39 units under the Ministry of Industries and the Ministry of Textiles in 2013 where they found 148,999.84 acres of land, including a 1516.74-acre extra land, said the high official.
The committee recommended for surveying “more intensively” the government industries and property and privatised property for their better utilisation.
Of the total 39 organisations, 14 were under Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC), one under Bangladesh Jute Mill Corporation (BJMC), 10 under Bangladesh Food and Sugar Industries Corporation, four under Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation and nine under Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC). Of them, 18 industries are fully in operation, three operating partially and 18 fully closed.
The government is set to formulate rules allowing private and foreign investment in the unused land belonging to different government industrial-commercial organisations across the country.
Under the move, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) has identified more than 100 unused land and infrastructures of running and closed factories of the State-owned Enterprises (SoE’s) under the draft rules.
BIDA has already carried out survey on a total of 15 organisations’ land measuring 364.22 acres and found extra land of 110.93 acres there.
There are 15 industries and other structures on the land, 13 of which are closed while two in operation.
Of the total 15 organisations and industries, five are under the Textiles Ministry, six under the Ministry of Industries, three under the Ministry of Environment and one under the Ministry of Commerce.
An inter-ministerial meeting was held recently at BIDA headquarters to finalise the draft rules on the issue.
“The government is going to formulate rules for industrialisation in unused land and infrastructures belonging to different government
industrial-commercial organizations,” BIDA Chairman Kazi M Aminul Islam told the inter-ministerial meeting.
He added, “There was no law to use unused land and infrastructures of different governmental organisations. If the rules are framed, the unused land and infrastructures would be used for industrialisation properly that will ultimately increase investment.”
“The rules are being formulated in line with the recommendations from all stakeholders,” the BIDA chief said.
Representatives from Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), Bridges Division, and Ministries of Industries, Textiles and Jute, Railway, Road Transport and Liberation War Affairs attended the meeting.
“The government has already taken various initiatives, including a survey of unused land acquired to establish industry. As the land was not utilised or the factories were shut, the land would be reallocated to establish new industries,” said a high official of BIDA preferring anonymity.
Earlier, a committee headed by former chairman of the Board of Investment (BOI) had surveyed 39 units under the Ministry of Industries and the Ministry of Textiles in 2013 where they found 148,999.84 acres of land, including a 1516.74-acre extra land, said the high official.
The committee recommended for surveying “more intensively” the government industries and property and privatised property for their better utilisation.
Of the total 39 organisations, 14 were under Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC), one under Bangladesh Jute Mill Corporation (BJMC), 10 under Bangladesh Food and Sugar Industries Corporation, four under Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation and nine under Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC). Of them, 18 industries are fully in operation, three operating partially and 18 fully closed.
