Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) is planning to establish a mega economic zone in Mirsarai named Mirsarai Economic Zone which will house sub-economic zones providing all sorts of facilities to investors. Projected to be established on 15,000 acres of land beside the Bay of Bengal, the economic zone will be largest investment hub, but only one-third land has so far been acquired. Of the 15,000 acres of land, BEZA has already got the ownership of 5,500 acres and it will likely to get the ownership of the remaining land immediately. BEZA sources said the authorities are planning to divide the mega economic zone into 15 to 20 parts for investors. Each sub-economic zone will be separated from each other and the norms of investment will likely to be different. Md Harunur Rashid, Project Director of BEZA, while talking to daily sun said the Mirsarai Economic Zone would be largest economic zone in the country. “It will house around 15 to 20 sub-economic zones,” he said adding “upon the interest of the investors, we will allocate land for them.” 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 the different parts of the country by the year 2030 with a view to catching more foreign investment and generating employment in a large scale. The special economic zones will help diversify products, catch foreign direct investment up to desired level and enhance employment for people, said Paban Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of BEZA. “BEZA has started land accusation for the Mirsarai Economic Zone. We already got ownership of 5,500 acres of land for the Economic zone, said Harunur Rashid adding that they will get the rest of the land immediately. BEZA is also working to ensure the offsite infrastructure for the zone. BEZA officials said they will construct a 4-lane 16 km-long road connection from Dhaka-Chittagong highway so that the industrial operation can run smoothly. The Mirsarai Economic Zone has already got the attention of the foreign investors. According to information, a Chinese company named Zhejiang Jindun Holding Group Company Limited has expressed interest to establish an economic zone there. Harunur Rashid said the Chinese company sought 1,000 acres of land for establishing a coal-based power plant. He also informed that the company is likely to establish a small-sized port at Sandeep Chanal adjacent to the economic zone for smooth business operation.
