Sylhet Correspondent :
Finance Minister Mr. Abul Maal Abdul Muhith M.P announced that Sylhet would be a modern industrial zone very soon.
The present government has been completed the modernizing the Agriculture University, Engineering University, Rail Station and Air Ports on priority basis. He also mentioned to attract local and foreign investment government has already taken steps to establish a Special Economic Zone here.
Finance Minister told this at a seminar on ‘Investment Opportunities in Sylhet Region’ jointly organized by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FBCCI) and Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) on Wednesday in Sylhet.
Mr. Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, M.P further added that government is under taking some development activities such as to declare Bholagoanj as the largest stone industrial area, up gradation and extension of Khadimnagor BSCIC industrial area, establishment of Tea Auction Centre at Srimongal and tourism development.
Dr. Mohammad Farashuddin, Former Governor of Bangladesh Bank presented the keynote paper. Among others FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, First Vice-President Mrs. Monowara Hakim Ali, Vice-President Mr. Md. Helal Uddin FBCCI Director & Former Senior Vice-President of Sylhet Chamber Mr. Salah Uddin Ali Ahmed, head of the Business Administration of SUST Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam and representatives of FNF also spoke at the seminar.
Key note speakers Dr. Mohammad Farasuddin highlighted the prospects and problems of industrialization in Sylhet. In his presentation, he demanded to declare ‘Madobpur-Rashidpur’ as private economic zone, to flourish tourism sector he suggested to completing speedily Double-Track Railyway from Akhaura to Sylhet, to formation of Tourist Police, related training and catering institutions, to establish a Container Depot at Shaestagonj, re-instate the Tea Board head office and Tea Auction Centre as well as quick implementing the MoU signed on 12 February 2014 between Bangladesh and Switzerland to protect the fisheries and ecological balance.
FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed said that under the leadership of Prime Minister the feasibility study of establishing an economic zone at Sherpur in Sylhet has been completed. If it is completed approximately 40 thousand employments will be created. He also recommended to fully utilized the unused plots, extension and up gradation of International airport, increase export to the 7 India Border States, infrastructural development of the existing customs stations.
