In a significant policy shift, the interim Government of Bangladesh, led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, has announced plans to focus on the development of 10 economic zones, downscaling from the ambitious target of 100 set by the previous Awami League (AL) administration.
Officials from the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) stated that the first phase will prioritise completing six zones: the National Special Economic Zone, Srihatta Economic Zone, Japanese Economic Zone, Maheshkhali Economic Zone, Jamalpur Economic Zone, and Anwara Economic Zone. These zones will be equipped with essential utilities, including gas, electricity, and water, along with necessary road infrastructure. The remaining four—Sabrang Tourism Park, Chandpur Economic Zone, Kushtia Economic Zone, and the Bhutanese Economic Zone in Kurigram—will be developed in a subsequent phase.
Of these, The Anwara Economic Zone, which is being developed with Chinese investment, and the Japanese Economic Zone, expected to attract Japanese investors, hold significant potential for supporting the RMG sector. Historically, RMG has contributed over 80 per cent of Bangladesh’s export earnings, and these zones are expected to include facilities tailored to garment manufacturing. The Srihatta Economic Zone and Jamalpur Economic Zone, with partial utility connections, are also likely candidates to become hubs for RMG production as infrastructure development progresses.
Beza Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun is set to provide further details about the roadmap, expected investments, and employment projections at a press conference scheduled for 7th January.
It is to be mentioned that the AL Government, which established Beza in 2009, initially planned to develop 100 economic zones across the country. However, the interim Government has scaled back these plans, citing underutilisation of vast tracts of land acquired for these zones. A senior Beza official confirmed that projects beyond the 10 designated zones would be put on hold, leaving decisions on the remaining lands to the next elected Government.
Energy Adviser Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan criticised the AL’s land acquisition strategy during a recent Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) event, calling it illogical and excessive.
Notwithstanding, the fate of the Indian Economic Zone in Mirsarai also remains uncertain. Funded by an Indian Line of Credit, the project has faced delays, with only $5 million of a $100 million loan disbursed since 2015. While the interim Government has decided not to prioritise this zone, it has assured that the project will not be canceled, leaving its future to the next political administration.
Under the previous AL regime, Beza approved 97 economic zone sites across the country, comprising 68 Government and 27 private zones, out of the originally planned 100. The economic zones are categorised into six types, including public, private, public-private partnerships (PPP), and Government-to-Government (g2g) initiatives.
