A high-powered pre-screening committee approved Thursday establishment of nine economic zones (EZs) in the country under an initiative of public and private sectors. The pre-screening committee comprises executive chairman of the Board of Investment (BoI), secretary to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, secretary to the Ministry of Land, president of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Dhaka, director general 1 of the Prime Minister’s Office, and architect Yafis Osman. Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Paban Chowdhury is the member- secretary of the committee. The EZs are: Moheskhali at Kalarmarchara in Cox’s Bazar, Ishwarganj in Mymensingh, Mymensingh EZ, Alutila Special Tourism Zone, Fakhrul Islam Chowdhury EZ Ltd, United City EZ Ltd, Eastcoast Group EZ at Bahubal in Habiganj, Sonargaon EZ, Kalapaharia special EZ at Aaraihazar in Narayanganj. Of the EZs, four will be developed by private sector investors while five others by the government. With the latest approval, there are a total of 68 approved EZs in the country that would be developed under both private and public initiatives.
