Beza vows to ensure utility services for investors

Industrial services such as gas, power and water are being provided on a priority basis for investors operating in all economic zones across the country, according to Shaikh Yusuf Harun, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza).

"Although power production is being temporarily hampered by the ongoing global crisis, the government has vowed to ensure the service on a priority basis for economic zones," he said.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

"We have also got commitments from the government regarding the gas supply for factories operating inside industrial enclaves," Harun added.

The executive chairman went on to say that Beza has already set up the required distribution network for this service at all economic zones so that any investor can avail a gas connection.

Harun made these remarks during a press meet organised by the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) in Dhaka yesterday.

He then said the power crisis would improve to a great extent after the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and Matarbari Power Plant come into operation.

And although difficulties remain in ensuring the availability of liquid natural gas, it will be possible to provide a smooth supply in the coming days.

Regarding the water supply, Harun said the service requirement would be fulfilled once the projects undertaken in this regard are implemented under the World Bank.

"We have already set up some tube-wells and adopted a project to fetch water from Matamuhuri river," he said.

Besides, the government is planning to set up a water grid in Meghna river that will reduce the dependency on groundwater at nearby economic zones.

Beza is now prioritising the use of khas land, or unsettled fallow land owned by the government, for setting up economic zones.

In addition, Beza is ensuring that industry owners comply with all regulations when setting up units inside the country's economic zones.

"We won't compromise in this regard," Harun said, adding that Beza previously cancelled the allotments of two investors for violating regulations.

He also informed that a clause has been incorporated in lease agreements so that the economic zones can remain free of corruption.

Beza has already received investments amounting to $22.17 billion for five of its state-run economic zones, where a total 6,084 acres of land have been leased to 177 investors.

Apart from that, 12 licensed private economic zones have gotten investments of more than $4 billion collectively.

Marking the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will virtually inaugurate 50 industrial units at economic zones across the country on October 26.

The premier will also lay the foundation stone of 29 industrial units across nine economic zones, which have so far received investments of $610 million and are in the process of receiving $1.9 billion more.

The investments came from different nations, including Japan, China, India, Australia, the Netherlands, US, UK, Germany, Singapore, South Korea and Norway, Harun said.

The Beza executive chairman also informed that the commercial operations of four industries at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar (BSMSN), namely Asian Paints of India, Nippon of Japan, McDonald Steel Building Products of Bangladesh and TK Group's associate organisation Samuda Construction Limited, would be inaugurated.

Abdullah Al Mahmud Faruk, project director of the BSMSN, made a presentation on the overall operations and progress of its activities at the press meet.

The event was chaired by ERF President Sharmin Rinvi.