The government will build an economic zone in the district within the next couple of months at a cost of Tk 3.5 billion that will help turn the district economically very rich, said Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed on Friday. The government has already decided to acquire 208 acres of land at Bheduria Bankerhat for the economic zone, he said. The Commerce Minister said the Payra seaport is just beside Bhola and the products, to be produced in Bhola, will easily be shipped elsewhere-home and abroad. “Considering all these advantages, investors both from home and abroad, have started purchasing lands in Bhola for establishing mills and factories,” Tofail said adding that Bhola will be one of the richest districts of the country within the next few years. He made the remarks while visiting the site of the country’s 39th economic zone. Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) Executive Chairman Paban Chowdhury was, among others, present. The Commerce Minister said the economic zone is one of the planned 100 economic zones to be established across the country as per Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s directive. Tofail said there are adequate gas reserve and electricity to be used in the special economic zone. “So, gas-based mills and factories can be established here very easily.” The BEZA chairman said works on 20 economic zones are going on in the first phase while the work on another 15 will start in the second phase. “We’re seeing the economic zone in gas-rich Bhola district with due importance among the 15 economic zones,” he added. Deputy Commissioner N Selimuddin, Police Super M Moktar Hossain, district Awami League general secretary and Zila Parishad administrator Abdul Momin Mantu were also present.
