Meghna Group is going to get pre-qualification license for another economic zone, thanks to the government for allowing the private sector establish economic zones in the country. The number of zones owned by the Group will total to three if the government finally awards it the license for new EZ. According to Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA), the pre-qualification license for establishing the proposed economic zone named Comilla Economic Zone will be handed over to the Meghna Group within a few days. Earlier, the company received pre-qualification licenses for two other economic zones — Meghna Economic Zone on 245 acres of land and Meghna Industrial Economic Zone on 80 acres of land — to be completed within a year. If all the factories are fully operational, they will create job opportunities for about 30,000 people. Sources said the BEZA in accordance with the government’s aim of establishing 100 economic zones in the country by the year 2030 has been actively planning to offer several economic zones to private sector. The authority in the meantime has handed over license to AK Khan Company to establish economic zone in Narsingdi on 200 acres of land, Abdul Monem Limited to establish economic zone in Munshiganj on 325.95 acres of land and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association to establish Garment Palli in Munsiganj on 492 acres of land. “The government is planning to offer private stakeholders authority to establish several economic zones,” said Paban Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of BEZA, informing that pre-qualification license for establishing an economic zone in Comilla on 272 acres of land will likely to be given to Meghna Group of Industries soon. He is also hopeful of establishing the proposed 100 economic zones by the stipulated time which he considers would be a milestone and effectual for the nation to be turned into a developed one by the year 2041. BEZA will establish zones on 75,000 acres of land and started acquiring lands at different parts of the country. It already has started working for 37 zones, including seven private ones. According to BEZA, Japan, India and China are working to establish economic zone.
