Eleven firms have expressed their intention to operate the 352-acre Srihatta Economic Zone in Moulvibazar that is being developed by Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza). Beza officials sat with the interested firms from both home and abroad for a pre-bidding meeting yesterday and expect to award the operating licence after completing the bidding process by December. The economic zone will be suitable for gas-based industries, as Beza is working with Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System in the region for industrial gas connections, said Beza Executive Chairman Paban Chowdhury. “The economic zone will contribute to the development of Sylhet region,” a Beza statement said, quoting Chowdhury. Srihatta is one of the four economic zones that Beza is setting up under government initiatives. The three others are: Mirsarai Economic Zone in Chittagong, Mongla Economic Zone in Bagerhat and Sabrang Tourism Park in Cox’s Bazar. Mustak Ahmed, general manager for planning at Beza, said Srihatta Economic Zone will create employment opportunities for 30,000 people in the region. Beza has so far awarded prequalification licences to six private sector companies to set up seven economic zones — one each to AK Khan and Company, Abdul Monem Ltd, Bay Group, Aman Group, Maisha Group, and two to Meghna Group. These economic zones are part of Beza’s plan to develop 100 such zones by 2030 on 75,000 acres, to create jobs for one crore people and to produce $40 billion worth of products and services. Beza has so far selected 59 places across the country for economic zones, of which feasibility studies on 22 sites are currently underway. Many private companies such as Bashundhara, East Coast, Unique, Alliance and City have expressed interest in developing economic zones.
