The country’s largest industrial zone, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar, is set to benefit from a US $ 1.127 billion project being launched by the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) to improve logistics facilities, including multimodal connectivity. The project is located near Chittagong.
According to Beza officials, the project intends to turn it into a climate-resilient smart industrial zone with related infrastructure and renewable energy facilities, such as extensive road connectivity, a logistics hub with jetties, utility infrastructure, and an intelligent transportation system.
By 2030, the zone, which is located in the Chattogram and Feni districts’ Mirsarai-Sitakunda-Sonagazi area, should be fully operational since the logistical development is expected to be finished by then.
However, businesses have expressed concerns following a government decision that factories outside economic zones or designated areas, such as BSCIC, will no longer receive utility connections and banking services. This decision has raised apprehensions, given that Bangabandhu Shilpa Nagar will not be fully functional for another six years.
The World Bank has provided first approval for the construction of logistics facilities within the industrial zone. According to officials, the feasibility assessment and design formulation both of which the global lender will support would come before the multilateral lender’s ultimate decision.
The jetties built in the industrial zone, according to Beza officials, will enable maritime routes to connect with the Chattogram port and other ports through multimodal connectivity.
Additionally, the industrial zone would be connected to the Dhaka-Chattogram railway and highways by roads and railways. The proposed Bangabandhu Shilpa Nagar will cover 33,407 acres, or roughly 133 square kilometres. Beza has already purchased 16,729 acres of this property, and land development is already underway.
152 units in the industrial zone have received approval from Beza thus far, totaling more than 5,251 acres of land allotted. The businesses have already made US $ 1.23 billion in investments. With their anticipated investment of more than US $ 18 billion, they hope to provide 775,228 people with jobs.
According to the project documents, Beza’s commitment to environmental sustainability will be a central focus of this project, as it will incorporate eco-friendly design and construction practices, green and climate-resilient infrastructure, utilities, and the utilisation of cutting-edge technology to make the Bangabandhu Shilpa Nagar smart, competitive, efficient, sustainable, and minimise its ecological footprint.
Ten million jobs are to be created by Beza through the establishment of 100 economic zones by 2041. This programme is a component of the government’s plan to group companies inside specific zones and offer all services under one roof.
Beza’s original goal was to finish these 100 zones by 2030, but they are now expected to be finished by 2041. Beza has authorised 97 economic zones thus far, 11 of which eight of them in the private sector are currently operational.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
