The government is going to give approval to 31 economic zones, finalise One-Stop Service (OSS) Act and land tariff proposals at the fourth governing committee meeting of the Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) scheduled today (Wednesday). Several other important decisions would be taken at the today’s meeting to be held at the Prime Minister’s Office with the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, BEZA officials told daily sun. Besides these, more proposals to be tabled in the meeting include incentive bonus for BEZA employees, BEZA Construction Act and appointing chartered accountant firm for the BEZA. Besides, development of G2G based economic zones, summing up the improvement of the 3rd governing committee meeting and development of economic zones, empowering BEZA of declaring ‘zone’ to private economic zones, changing the name of Srihatta economic zone are also in the meeting agenda, BEZA sources said. “A set of important agenda will be tabled in the meeting for final approval. Especially, fixing land tariff of the BEZA acquired land and OSS Act will be the key agenda in the meeting”, BEZA Executive Chairman Paban Chowdhury told daily sun. BEZA sources said that BEZA has selected and scrutinized more 31 economic zones for the approval which will be tabled in the governing committee meeting for final approval. Of them, 19 are public and rest 12 are private economic zones. Sources also said that the OSS Act will be the key agenda in the meeting as it is needed for better and quick service to the investors.BEZA thinks that without having OSS Act, the investors will not get the proper service which would discourage the foreign investors.It is learnt that the BEZA has set a standard tariff for the government land which awaits approval at the meeting. OSS Act is mandatory for smooth service for the investors otherwise; investors will not get expected service. Some 16 kinds of services have been fixed for the developer and investors which will be given under the OSS, said Paban Chowdhury. “Besides, we are going to place a standard land tariff for the government land under the BEZA which will simplify the process of allocating and leasing out land to the investors”, he continued. About the 4th governing committee meeting, Paban Chowdhury said that the meeting is important for so many aspects as the dream of establishing 100 economic zones is getting maturity. As of now, the BEZA has approved 47 economic zones under six categories across the country.
