PM lays foundation stones of 10 economic zones [ Tritiyo Matra News ]

PM lays foundation stones of 10 economic zones

Local February 29, 2016

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday laid the foundation stones of 10 economic zones, the first of its kind in the country, as she sought cooperation of the local people to set up those zones fast to build a prosperous Bangladesh.
‘I would like to urge local people to extend cooperation so that the investors could build the (economic) zones in a faster pace and ‘beautiful atmosphere’, and thus would help establish a hunger and poverty-free prosperous Bangladesh,’ she said.
With the setting up of economic zones, she said, the ‘living standard’ of the people would be further developed as those will generate employment, alleviate poverty and infuse dynamism into the economy.
The prime minister laid the foundation stones of 10 economic zones through videoconferencing from Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital Dhaka in the morning.
Industries minister Amir Hossain Amu and planning minister AHM Mustafa Kamal addressed the function as the special guests, while housing and public works minister Mosharraf Hossain joined the videoconferencing from Mirsarai Economic Zone in Chittagong.
Prime minister’s principal secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad delivered the welcome address, while Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority executive chairman Paban Chowdhury spoke.
PowerPac Economic Zone Private Limited managing director Ron Haq Sikder, Aman Economic Zone managing director Md Rafiqul Islam, Bay Economic Zone managing director Ziaur Rahman, Meghna Economic Zone and Meghna Industrial EZ managing director Mostofa Kamal, AK Khan Economic Zone managing
director Salahuddin Kasem Khan and Abdul Monem Economic Zone managing director ASM Mainuddin Monem also spoke at the function.
Terming the present government as an ‘investment and business-friendly’ one, the prime minister said her government wanted to create an excellent atmosphere for investment.
‘We don’t want to do business, rather we want to create scope for the businesspeople as we want (rapid) development of the country.’
Hasina called upon local and foreign entrepreneurs to come forward to invest in the country’s economic zones for (further) economic uplift of the country.
The prime minister also urged all concerned to give focus properly on the environment issue while setting up mills and factories in the economic zones.
Referring to the contribution of local people to establishing economic zones in different parts of the country, Hasina requested the entrepreneurs concerned to make arrangements so that the children of the local people get employment in their mills and factories.
Pointing out her government’s plan to set up 100 economic zones across the country for rapid industrialisation and generating employment, the prime minister urged the entrepreneurs to set up industries considering the demands of the products in the respective areas.
She said Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority had been established to set up 100 economic zones to attract more investment as well as to create employments for more than one crore people.
‘Generating employment for a huge number of people could only be possible through setting up industries in the limited areas of lands,’ she said, adding economic zones are expected to contribute to the national economy of the country in terms of production, export and investment.
Out of the economic zones, Mirsarai Economic Zone in Chittagong, Srihattya Economic Zone in Moulvibazar, Mongla Economic Zone in Bagerhat and Subrang Tourist Park in Cox’s Bazar are being developed under public-private sector initiative.
The remaining six economic zones being developed under private initiatives are located at Palash in Narsingdi, Boddarbazar at Sonargaon in Narayanganj, Konabari in Gazipur, Meghnaghat in Narayanganj, Choto Shilmandi at Sonargaon in Narayanganj and Gazaria in Munshiganj.