PC sends back revised project to set up industrial estate

Md Shah Jahan | Published: July 10, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

The Planning Commission (PC) has sent back the proposal of revising the project on setting up an industrial estate for the textile sector in Kushtia as a fresh controversy has surfaced over the name of the project, sources said.
The Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) officials said the PC declined to approve the project titled 'Special Economic Zone (Textiles) Kumarkhali, Kushtia' citing that it will create controversy with other government organisations.
Sources said Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal returned the project saying that the BSCIC has no legal right to set up Special Economic Zone as there are already two organisations-BEPZA (Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority) and BEZA (Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority) to set up such kinds of industrial parks.
Sources said the BSCIC usually sets up the industrial estate to facilitate small and cottage industries. The industrial park was introduced in the country in 1960s to provide necessary services and facilities to the private entrepreneurs for expanding small and cottage industries. The BSCIC has so far set up 74 industrial parks in the country.
Officials of BSCIC said the PC's step has created another deadlock over the setting up of the industrial estate as the actual deadline of the project has been consumed in fixing the location and land acquisition.
A top BSCIC official told the FE that now they will again send the proposal by changing the name of the project.
"We will send it soon," she said.
She, however, said the BSCIC authority took initiative to set up the project in July 2010 and the PC approved it at that time. And, it is a revised proposal.
"So, how the name is problem now," she questioned.
Project director Md Mojibur Rahman told the FE that as the project implementation time has already expired, he has no task to do.
"We primarily faced problem in fixing the project site and finally reached a decision to set up the SEZ at Sultanpur in Kumarkhali. So, as the PC sent back the proposal, we have no task to do," he said.
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.
According to the revised draft project proposal (DPP), the cost will involve Tk 136.4 million against the original estimate of Tk 81.6 million.
Mr Rahman said under the project, 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 handlooms and 605 electriclooms 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.