The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpanagar is a large industrial area situated on the coastal belt of Mirsarai Upazila in Bangladesh. It covers an area of 33,000 acres and is one of the largest economic zones in South Asia. The area was originally known for its extensive salt flats, which made it unsuitable for agriculture. Instead, the area was primarily used for fishing and grazing.
Over time, however, the area has been transformed into an economic powerhouse. The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpanagar includes four industrial parks and two commercial areas, as well as several residential areas. The government has invested heavily in the area, with plans to invest even more in the future. The goal is to create a world-class economic zone that will attract investment from around the globe.
The area is named after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first President of Bangladesh. He was a proponent of economic development and saw the potential in the area. The government has continued his legacy by investing in the area and promoting economic growth.
The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpanagar is expected to generate thousands of jobs and contribute significantly to the country’s economy. The government hopes that it will become a hub for manufacturing, trade, and commerce, as well as a center for research and development. With its strategic location on the coast and access to major transportation networks, the area has the potential to become a major player in the global economy.
In the area of Bangabandhu Industrial City, around 15 companies have started construction work. Gas and electricity infrastructure has been established in the project area. Road construction work is underway. A separate bridge is being built in Sagorpara within the scope of a separate road network from Chittagong Port. This bridge will also be used as a road. Textile factories, shipbuilding industries, steel mills, automobile factories, and garment factories will be established in the Mirsarai economic zone.According to market information, companies from various countries such as Wilmar from Singapore, Adani Group from India, and Nippon Steel from Japan have already proposed investments of nearly 1 billion dollars in the Bangabandhu Industrial City. Bangladeshi industrial groups are not lagging behind either.
Today, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Karnaphuli Dry Dock in a special economic zone in the Karnaphuli river area through a video conference. The Karnaphuli Dry Dock is located in Badalpura and Shah Mirpur Mouja, south of the Karnaphuli river, and was established by the country’s largest organization, Karnaphuli Ship Builders, on land acquired from the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA). The World Bank has provided an easy loan of BDT 800 crore for the construction of the dry dock. The dry dock is 285 meters long and 56 meters wide, and can accommodate ships weighing up to 1 lakh tons for construction and maintenance. Construction of another dry dock is also underway at a cost of BDT 1,200 crore.
On the south bank of the Karnaphuli River in Anwara, two jetties have already been constructed under the Karnaphuli Drydock Special Economic Zone. Loading and unloading operations of cargo ships have started on the jetties, which are helping to reduce the congestion of cargo ships at Chittagong Port and increase productivity. Especially, foreign currencies are being utilized as waiting time for ships at the outer anchorage decreases. With two 170-meter long jetties, up to 10-12 ships can be discharged and loaded together, and although it reduces the amount of cargo per ship, it can handle 6,000 tons daily and 180,000 tons per month.Two jetties have already been constructed under the “Karnaphuli Drydock Special Economic Zone” in the southern bank of the Karnaphuli River in Anwara, and loading-unloading operations of cargo ships carrying imports have begun, contributing to reducing congestion at the Chittagong Port and increasing productivity. Especially, the waiting time for ships outside the port has been reduced, leading to the adoption of foreign currency. The two jetties can accommodate two ships of 170 meters in length together and can handle daily 6,000 tons and monthly 180,000 tons of cargo even with reduced vessels of 10 to 12. In addition, 20.98 acres of land have been leased for the construction of two more jetties and a container terminal within the area of this economic zone, and two more jetties will also be built on the company’s own land of Karnaphuli Ship Builders.
Today, the project will be inaugurated and foundation stones will be laid for a total of eight venues. The venues are the Ganobhaban in Dhaka, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar (Mirsarai, Chattogram), Sreemangal Economic Zone (Sreemangal, Maulvibazar), Karnaphuli Dry Dock SEZ (Anwara, Chattogram), Meghna Industrial Economic Zone (Sonargaon, Narayanganj), Jamalpur Economic Zone (Jamalpur Sadar), Sabrang Tourism Park (Sabrang, Cox’s Bazar) and Hosendi Economic Zone (Gazaria, Munshiganj). The program will end with exchanges with the investors in the economic zones.
Karnafuli Ship Builders Limited has already built around 1,200 ships and boats, repaired almost 800 vessels, and constructed 50 dredgers, which have been handed over to the government. This event, which began with a welcoming speech by Sheikh Yusuf Harun, the managing director of Beximco, featured a video presentation on the activities of the Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority. The Member of Parliament for Chattogram-1, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, and Salman Rahman, the Prime Minister’s private industry and investment advisor, will deliver speeches at the end of the presentation.
