The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) is gearing up to develop affordable housing within the National Special Economic Zone (NSEZ), the country’s largest industrial area, in response to the urgent housing crisis faced by workers as industrial activities expand.
To support this initiative, Beza plans to allocate land within the NSEZ to investors and provide access to low-interest loans for the construction of worker accommodations. A Beza official noted, “Investors will receive land within the zone for building low-cost housing, supported by reduced-interest financing from the Bangladesh Bank.”
Spanning 33,805 acres across Sitakunda, Mirsarai in Chattogram, and Sonagazi in Feni, the NSEZ is envisioned as a leading industrial hub. Currently, eleven factories are operational, with more under development.
Investors have raised concerns that the lack of sufficient housing for workers is hampering full-scale operations. Many companies are facing challenges due to inadequate transportation links, forcing them to recruit employees from remote areas, which leads to increased costs and delays.
With no formal housing options available, locals have begun constructing unregulated structures along roadsides to rent to workers, causing alarm among stakeholders about potential future complications, including expensive road expansions.
Although Beza’s master plan includes designated residential areas, especially in the Feni Economic Zone, the land acquisition process for these developments is still pending.
On Tuesday, representatives from the Bangladesh Economic Zones Investors Association (Bezia) met with Beza Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun to discuss the pressing housing situation. Bezia CEO Aparup Chowdhury highlighted the necessity for Beza to accelerate the development of essential infrastructure, including worker housing and transportation.
The housing dilemma was a key topic during Beza’s 8th Governing Board meeting on October 13, chaired by board president and Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. The board emphasized the importance of speeding up land acquisition for housing in alignment with the master plan and proposed involving commercial banks in the distribution of low-interest loans through the Bangladesh Bank. Additionally, they recommended establishing a branch of the Bangladesh House Building Finance Corporation in Mirsarai to assist investors with housing financing.
The NSEZ has already garnered around US $ 19 billion in investment proposals from both domestic and international investors, with Beza indicating that 155 investors are currently engaged in the zone. Projections suggest that the area could accommodate up to 500 industrial units in the near future.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
