Hundreds of production units face closure in Bhaluka
Saturday, 9 June 2007
FE Report
Hundreds of production units in the country's largest Dhaka-Bhaluka industrial belt face closure following the recent decision of the Ministry of Environment about their relocation elsewhere to protect ecological balance of the Bhawal National Park.
In its circular the ministry said any houses, buildings, small and cottage industries, agriculture, dairy and fisheries farms or production units can not be established in the areas of Araish Prasad, Bonkhia, Bishayakuribari, Baroipara, North Salna, Baopara, Bahadurpara and Mohana Bhabanipara to protect the biological and ecological balance of the Park.
The circular was issued November 22,1999 by the then secretary to the Ministry of Environment and Forest. But it was published June 29, 2006 through a gazette notification, which stated that anybody who violates the rules will face punishment.
Recently, the officials of the ministry concerned issued notices to the industry owners and land owners to remove their production units and not to build any new industrial production units in such areas, sources said.
The sources, however, said the industrial units have been established on private lands, but they are close to the Bhawal National Park.
But, more than 360 industrial production units, especially the textile and knit factories, are already in operation in those areas.
"More than 200,000 officials and employees are directly employed in those industrial production units," said an owner of a textile industry.
"We have already submitted applications to the office of the adviser of the ministry of environment and forest and the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) with a request for change the decision on relocation of the industrial units," he said.
He said many industry owners purchased the land and established industries even before the circular was issued.
"Where will they go now after making investment of more than Tk 15 billion?" he asked.
He said most of the investors have obtained 'no objection certificates' (NOCs) from the Board of Investment (BoI), offices of the trade licence, local union council, value added tax (VAT) registration certificate, BTMA and the department of environment.
When asked a senior official of the Department of Environment (DoE) declined to comment on the issue "at this stage".
The textile factory owner said even the chairman of the local union council has given the NOC for establishment of the industrial units in the area.
Hundreds of production units in the country's largest Dhaka-Bhaluka industrial belt face closure following the recent decision of the Ministry of Environment about their relocation elsewhere to protect ecological balance of the Bhawal National Park.
In its circular the ministry said any houses, buildings, small and cottage industries, agriculture, dairy and fisheries farms or production units can not be established in the areas of Araish Prasad, Bonkhia, Bishayakuribari, Baroipara, North Salna, Baopara, Bahadurpara and Mohana Bhabanipara to protect the biological and ecological balance of the Park.
The circular was issued November 22,1999 by the then secretary to the Ministry of Environment and Forest. But it was published June 29, 2006 through a gazette notification, which stated that anybody who violates the rules will face punishment.
Recently, the officials of the ministry concerned issued notices to the industry owners and land owners to remove their production units and not to build any new industrial production units in such areas, sources said.
The sources, however, said the industrial units have been established on private lands, but they are close to the Bhawal National Park.
But, more than 360 industrial production units, especially the textile and knit factories, are already in operation in those areas.
"More than 200,000 officials and employees are directly employed in those industrial production units," said an owner of a textile industry.
"We have already submitted applications to the office of the adviser of the ministry of environment and forest and the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) with a request for change the decision on relocation of the industrial units," he said.
He said many industry owners purchased the land and established industries even before the circular was issued.
"Where will they go now after making investment of more than Tk 15 billion?" he asked.
He said most of the investors have obtained 'no objection certificates' (NOCs) from the Board of Investment (BoI), offices of the trade licence, local union council, value added tax (VAT) registration certificate, BTMA and the department of environment.
When asked a senior official of the Department of Environment (DoE) declined to comment on the issue "at this stage".
The textile factory owner said even the chairman of the local union council has given the NOC for establishment of the industrial units in the area.