Construction work on hi-tech park at Kaliakoir begins

FE Team | Published: September 13, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

M Azizur Rahman
Construction work of the country's first-ever hi-tech park at Kaliakoir in Gazipur district started rolling in full swing to accommodate technology-oriented enterprises especially those of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.
The government is now developing the basic infrastructure of the 231 acre-park at a cost of Tk 244.20 million under the first phase of the project, a senior official of the Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology (MoSICT) told the FE Monday.
He said besides carrying on the infrastructure works, the government is simultaneously working to entice high profile global business enterprises to invest in the hi-tech park.
Business enterprises of both local and foreign countries would get the opportunity to invest in the hi-tech park to do businesses smoothly without hassle, said the MoSICT official.
He said the government would soon appoint an international developer that would shoulder the responsibility to complete the construction of the hi-tech park and do marketing as well.
The government has already held talks with the World Bank (WB) to facilitate preparation of the bidding documents for appointing the international developer, he said.
"The WB has also assured to extend its assistance through the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for preparing the bid documents," the MoSICT sources said.
One such developer - Malaysia-based Multimedia Super Corridor - has already conducted a feasibility study of the proposed hi-tech park.
Based on its own study the Malaysian company, which has experience on developing similar hi-tech park in Vietnam and Cambodia, has expressed the intention to work in Bangladesh.
Sources said Kaliakoir Hi-Tech Park is planned on a scientific and comprehensive basis and once completed can boast of a first rate infrastructure, rationally schemed for the function of industry, commerce, residence, office, culture, education, hygiene and will be equipped with a complete set of roads, water supply, electricity supply, gas supply, telecommunications, drainage and sewage facilities.
The previous government, however, initiated the move for setting up the hi-tech park in Kalikoir and subsequently acquired the land in 2004.
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) subsequently conducted a study where it noted that a total of Tk 10 billion would be required for completion of the hi-tech project.
Since then no headway to the hi-tech park project was made as the government was looking for donor assistance for full construction of the project.
Failing to entice funding from donor agencies the government in 2006 decided to complete the project in phases through its own fund.
The first phase of the hi-tech park project was initiated several months ago after release of the government fund, said sources.
When contacted project director of the proposed hi-tech park Kamal Uddin Ahmed said: "The construction work to ensure basic infrastructure of the hi-tech park is now going on."
The government would seek Request for proposal (RfP) from international developers soon for proper completion of the hi-tech park project and ensure adequate marketing to attract potential investors, Ahmed told the FE.
Welcoming the government move for setting up the hi-tech park President of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) Rafiqul Islam Rowly said: "Construction of the hi-tech park will definitely help the country's ICT sector, which is yet to exploit its huge potentials."
President of the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) Mohammad Abdus Salam said: "giving local ICT firms better benefits are much desirable through the hi-tech park."