The fate of the special economic zone (SEZ) for the textile sector in Kushtia is now hanging in the balance as the project implementation period has already elapsed due to complications in land acquisition, according to sources concerned.
The Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), the project implementation authority has failed to implement the project as they failed to acquire land in time.
Deputy General Manager of BSCIC project management and implementation division Begum Hosnee Ara told the FE that they have taken steps to revise the project which is now awaiting Planning Commission's (PC) approval.
"We faced the problem of land acquisition for the project as price was much higher than we estimated. And according to the revised detailed project proposal (RDPP), the project cost will increase more than 5 times," she said.
She said as the PC does not approve any project now, they have to wait for new government for getting approval.
The BSCIC authorities under the Ministry of Industries (MoI) took a plan to set up the SEZ at Kumarkhali in Kushtia district to facilitate about 7,500 local craftsmen. The project was scheduled to be implemented from July 2010 to June 2013.
Project director Md Mojibur Rahman told the FE that they primarily faced fixation of the project site and finally reached a decision to set up the SEZ at Sultanpur in Kumarkhali.
"We had to arrange series of meetings with the local authorities for fixing the location which wasted maximum period of the project implementation," he said.
According to the revised DPP, the cost will involve Tk 136.4 million against the original estimate of Tk 81.6 million.
Mr Rahman said they will provide various facilities including a good working atmosphere to the textile craftsmen of the area, as skilled hands are facing a number of problems and the textile units there have become sick industries.
The area has become a renowned place for looms since the British colonial days, producing quality products, he mentioned.
"This is an initiative to develop the socio-economic conditions of the local craftsmen as well as to strengthen the pace of activities for alleviating poverty in the area," he added.
The SEZ will be set up on 10 acres of land and at least 30 to 35 small and medium textile units will be set up there. Around 21,000 people are directly involved with the sector in the area. These people are operating 13,157 hand-looms and 605 electric-looms for their livelihood.
Under the project, infrastructural facilities, including new roads and culverts, power and water supply, drainage system etc. will be developed for the entrepreneurs.
