Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has emphasized transforming Bangladesh’s economic zones into green, modern and investment-friendly industrial hubs by maintaining a balance between industrialization and environmental protection.
He made the remarks while chairing a meeting of the Governing Board of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat.
The BEZA governing board adopted several decisions aimed at expanding the country’s economic zones, increasing investment, creating employment opportunities and protecting the environment, according to Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Md Suzauddhowla Sujon Mahmud.
As part of the government’s nationwide programme to plant 25 crore trees, the meeting decided to undertake tree plantation activities in every Export Processing Zone (EPZ) across the country.
Under the initiative, a total of 125,000 trees will be planted in various EPZs to increase green coverage, maintain environmental balance and make the economic zones more environmentally friendly.
The meeting also reviewed the implementation progress of decisions taken at the previous governing board meeting.
Discussions were held on establishing new economic zones, reviewing the evaluation of private economic zones and ensuring the optimal use of unused state-owned industrial assets.
The board also examined the possibility of utilizing the land and existing infrastructure of Karim Jute Mills and Latif Bawany Jute Mills Limited in Narayanganj for economic activities.
The meeting stressed attracting domestic and foreign investment, creating employment opportunities and stimulating the local economy through the establishment of modern industries at those sites.
It also discussed ensuring compliance with prescribed guidelines for applications and licensing of private economic zones and formulating new policies in this regard.
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Industries, Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, Road Transport, Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun attended the meeting.
