In order to pave a smooth process of establishing 100 economic zones across the country, the Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) has set a standard tariff for the government land required by it.The BEZA, attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, is going to table the land tariff proposal seeking the final approval in the upcoming fourth governing committee meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.“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”, said BEZA Executive Chairman Paban Chowdhury.BEZA sources said, according to the Section-30 of BEZA Act-2010, the government formed a six-member committee under the economic zone authority to set the land tariff.The committee submitted a tariff rate after assessing the tariff plans for the land of export processing zones of different countries including Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, sources said.The committee has proposed the land tariff on yearly, monthly and at a time basis under several categories – developed land, commercial land, and residential land.It also fixed the tariff rate on the land for establishing power plants, LNG terminals, central effluent treatment plants, sewerage treatment plants, and water treatment plants.Besides, service charges for water, electricity, gas, industrial unit registration, sewerage operator charge, design approval charge, conservancy charge and compliance charge were also fixed under the propped tariff plan.BEZA sources also said that the BEZA will seek the governing committee to empower its executive board in setting the tariff rate for the next course of time.The BEZA will also seek the authority of its executive board in offering 25 percent lower rate than the original price for lands of all categories during the first two years of establishment, increase the rate by up to 25 percent considering the growing demand, allocating the land to the entrepreneurs through RFP for hotel, motel, villa, shopping mall under the tourism economic zone, BEZA sources said.The process of setting up 100 economic zones across the country will be more dynamic, if the government empowers the BEZA in setting land tariff by its own, said BEZA executive chairman.He further said, setting the land tariff rates is a vital agenda in the upcoming governing committee meeting scheduled at the end of this month.“Once the tariff is fixed, we will be enabled to grant land to the investors in the economic zones.It is needed to grant land for establishing power plant in Feni-Mirershorai. After the approval, we will be able to provide land to the investors,” said Paban Chowdhury.The government is planning to set up a total of 100 special economic zones on 75,000 acres of land under the supervision of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) at different parts of the country by the year 2030 with a view to catching more foreign investment and generating employment on a large scale.So far, 59 economic zones have been selected while the government has approved 46 economic zones across the country.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the development of 10 economic zones across the country on February last. Of the 10 economic zones, four are public economic zones while six are private.Government-owned economic zones are Mirsarai Economic Zones in Chittagong, Shreehatta Economic Zone in Moulvibazar, Mongla Economic Zone in Bagerhat and Sabrang Tourism Special Zone in Cox’s Bazar while private economic zones are AK Khan Private Economic Zone in Narsingdi, Abdul Momen Economic Zone in Munshiganj, Meghna Industrial Economic Zone at Sonargaon in Narayanganj, Meghna Economic Zone at Sonargaon in Narayanganj, Aman Private Economic Zone in Narayanganj and Bay Economic Zone in Gazipur.
