NILPHAMARI, Feb 17: The Uttara Export Processing Zone (EPZ) thrives in all direction including volume of export, amount of investment and creation of employment opportunity. Employment opportunity in the EPZ is gradually improving rural economy and standard of living in the region.
Situated in Songolshi union council under Sadar upazila on 212 acres of land, the EPZ was opened by the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in July 2001. Since then the EPZ is contributing the ultra poor people to come out from poverty trap.
Sources said 14 companies have so far set up their factories in 140 plots creating employment for 24,000 people. 70 per cent of them being rural women. The companies include five from Hong Kong, UK and eight locals. They invested around Tk 20 billion in the EPZ.
The foreign companies are producing export oriented wig, coffin, spectacle , leather bag, belt, sweater etc for global market while local companies are producing ready-made garments accessories and so on.
EPZ sources said still there remain 47 plots ready for allocation in the EPZ and after setting up of factories there number of employed people would increase up to 75000 or so.
Like many other workers Rahima Begum (22) and her husband Rafikul Islam (28) of Harinchara UP of Domar Upazila said they used to lead a miserable life before getting job at Evergreen Wig factory of the EPZ. At present we earn Tk 20,000 per month. They added that they have already built a house and purchased a motor bike.
While contacted Lakshmi Rani (20) of Itakhola union of Sadar upazila could not complete HSS exam as they were very poor. She said her father Anukul Chandro Roy a day labourer and his income only enable them to eke out two squire meals a day for their family. Now as she got a job at Evergreen company limited at the EPZ and earn Tk 12,000 per month as she purchased 10 decimal of land and built a house there.
General Manager of EPZ Abdus Sobhan said volume of export increasing year on year at the EPZ. High standard of products are being exported to European Union countries, Australia, South and North America. Sources said gas supply badly needed for overall enhancement at the EPZ which is being demanded so long by the local people.
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