Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority will allot 500 acres of land to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association for setting up a well-planned readymade garment factory park in the Mirsarai Economic Zone of Chittagong.The BEZA and the BGMEA on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding in this connection at a programme held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Dhaka.BEZA executive member Md Harunur Rahsid and BGMEA president Md Siddiqur Rahman signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides. Siddiqur said that they sought the land from the BEZA for relocating the factories haphazardly established at different places mainly in Dhaka and setting up green factories having international standards.The BEZA decided to allocate the land within three months after initiation of the discussion, he said, adding that the decision would fulfil the long-cherished demand of the apparel entrepreneurs.He expressed hope that the government would provide all types of entrepreneurial facilities at the park.BEZA officials said that they agreed to allocate the land to the BGMEA as the association promised to invest $2 billion for setting up RMG and garment accessories factories at the proposed garment park for generating employment for 5 lakh people.The BGMEA will start the process of building factories within next one year, they said.BEZA executive chairman Paban Chowdhury said that relocation of factories and setting up new ones at the park would increase the export competitiveness of local apparel manufacturers through reducing the cost of transportation as the proposed park is located very close to the Chittagong port.He also said that the relocation of factories would also reduce the pressure on Dhaka.Principal coordinator for SDGs of Prime Minister’s Office Md Abul Kalam Azad, commerce secretary Shubhashish Bose, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, BEZA executive member M Emdadul Haque, former BGMEA president Md Atiqul Islam, Exporters Association of Bangladesh president Abdus Salam Murshedy were present, among others, at the programme.
