Anisur Rahman Khan :
The future economic foundation, development spree and job creation in big bulk are dependent on the sprouting economic zones across the country.
With this vision in mind, the government has planned to set up 100 Economic Zones in different parts of Bangladesh with a view to attracting local and international investors. Meanwhile, Bangladesh government has received about US$ 28 billion investment proposal since the inception of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) in 2010. The authorities concerned also noted that some local and foreign investors are in the pipeline to invest in large volume in various economic zones. However, BEZA has already earmarked 97 economic zones where these were to be set up in the days to come. BEZA sources said, only 28 Economic Zones have been developed
so far but all of these have not started operation. Only six zones are in operation now.
Under G2G Japanese government has a zone in Narayanganj while India has two zones in Mongla and Mirsharai, and China has a zone at Anwara in Chattogram.
Sources said, the government leases a zone under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) for 50 years under the installment system round the year.
The investors that want to develop the zone will get the necessary utility services like gas, electricity from the one-stop service of BEZA so that the investors don’t have to experience any hassle while developing the zone.
Any investor, who wants to take the zone, can pay the cost by installment in three phases. During the contract signing, the investor will have to provide 25 per cent money of the total and after six months the second installment will be 25 per cent.
And finally, when the land will be handed over, the remaining 50 per cent have to be paid, sources said.
“We provide the necessary support to the investors for developing the zones. We provide them 48 one-stop services so that they don’t face any trouble,” General Manager (joint secretary) of BEZA Md Moniruzzaman told the New Nation on Wednesday.
“In future we have a plan to provide 125 services under the one-stop system,” he added.
About the current investors, he said, “Right now there are 110 investors in different Economic Zones. Of them, seven investors are in Sreehatta in Maulvibazar.
Asked about the environmental issues, Moniruzzaman said, “We are very much conscious about it. We won’t allow any investor to pollute our environment. We believe in development but not at the cost of environment.”
Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) will be set up in every economic zone to manage effluents centrally, he added.
BEZA came into being through the Bangladesh Economic Zones Act, 2010 and it was officially instituted by the Government of Bangladesh on 9 November 2010.
BEZA aims to establish economic zones in all potential areas in Bangladesh including backward and underdeveloped regions with a view to encouraging rapid economic development through increase and diversification of industry, employment, production and export’.
