BEZA studying social, environmental impact

FE REPROT

The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) looks to ensure social and environmental sustainability across a vast region surrounding its flagship economic zone (EZ) in Chattogram.

It has been conducting a major study to understand the impact of vast industrial city development across 33,000 acres of land at Mirsarai and Sitakunda in Chattogram, and Sonagazi in Feni which is known as National Special Economic Zone (NSEZ).

The study titled 'Regional Environmental and Social Assessment (RESA)' will also suggest the needful following the advice from different stakeholders.

To this effect, the BEZA hosted a national workshop to share draft findings held at a city hotel in the capital on Wednesday. Chief coordinator of SDG Affairs of the Chief Adviser's Office Lamiya Morshed was present as the chief guest while BEZA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun presided over the event.

ASM Humayun Kabir, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change was present as a special guest.

Lamiya Morshed said the development of the NSEZ would create an opportunity to implement the 11 SDGs. She also mentioned that this needed cooperation of all.

BEZA Executive Chairman Ashik Mahmud said they were developing the EZ with the goal of integrated industrialization, which would be a model for safe and sustainable development, employment and environmental protection for the next generation.

If the development of the NSEZ is successful, a new horizon will begin in the investment of Bangladesh, he added.

NSEZ development project chief Abdullah Al Mahmud Faruk said the main objective of the ongoing study was to identify and analyze the possible environmental and social impacts and to create appropriate solutions or management plans for them to ensure the sustainable development of the NSEZ.

He said that the final draft report based on the feedback from the workshop will be shared on the BEZA website for everyone's opinion by the middle of December.

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