The Government of Bangladesh has decided to officially cancel 10 economic zones, according to Ashik Chowdhury, Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).
The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Adviser, with senior officials from BIDA and BEPZA in attendance.
In a press briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy following the meeting, Chowdhury confirmed the cancellations, stating that the governing body selected these 10 zones from the list of 100 for permanent cancellation.
Cancelled Government Economic Zones:
- Sonadia Eco-Tourism Park (Cox’s Bazar)
- Sundarbans Tourism Park (Bagerhat)
- Gojaria Economic Zone (Munshiganj)
- Sreepur Economic Zone (Gazipur)
- Mymensingh Economic Zone (Mymensingh)
Cancelled Private Economic Zones:
- BGMEA Garment Industrial Park (Munshiganj)
- Chhatak Economic Zone (Sunamganj)
- FOMCOM Economic Zone (Bagerhat)
- City Special Economic Zone (Dhaka)
- Sonargaon Economic Zone (Narayanganj)
Commenting on the recent investment summit organized by BIDA, Chowdhury said international investors were highly impressed by the resilience of the Bangladeshi people and the country's investment prospects. The summit aimed to highlight Bangladesh’s potential to foreign stakeholders.
He revealed that the event cost approximately BDT 5 crore (50 million), with the government covering BDT 1.45 crore (14.5 million). The four-day summit secured investment commitments worth BDT 3,100 crore (31 billion).
Chowdhury added that discussions with investors who participated in the summit would continue and emphasized the importance of hosting similar events annually to further attract foreign investment.
He also noted that by September or October, a foreign company would be selected to develop a seaport or bay terminal. BIDA plans to fully digitize its One-Stop Service platform, allowing all licensing and support services to be accessed through a single website.
Additionally, he mentioned that the decision to halt transshipment operations could pave the way for upgrades to the country’s domestic airports.
