Padma Bridge Progress | Construction Work Latest Update

The installation of concrete slabs on the road of Padma Bridge will be completed in September 2021. Then this dream bridge can be crossed on foot if you want! Railway work has also progressed a lot. Construction work to build a rail link from the ground to the bridge could be completed by next December. Then the bridge can be crossed by walking along the railway. Considering the progress of the overall work of the Padma Bridge till 1st June, the bridge department hopes that if all the works go well, the bridge can be opened for vehicle in June 2022. There is also a target to start the train on the same day.

However, there is some uncertainty about the launch of the train. The Ministry of Railways says a pillar of the flyover (viaduct) outside the bridge is being demolished due to design complications. Due to this, the work of making rail-line connection with the bridge has been delayed. The work of laying the railway line outside the part of the bridge has not started.

On December 10, the main bridge was erected by attaching the last or 41st steel span of the Padma Bridge. This created a direct connection between Zazira of Shariatpur and Mawa of Munshiganj. Vehicles will pass over the two-storey Padma Bridge and trains will pass through. Rail and road are now being constructed with concrete slab pairs for bridge crossings. As of June 1, the work of laying vehicle and railway slabs has been completed by 89 per cent and 95 per cent respectively. According to the progress report of the project, the work of the main bridge has progressed 93.50 percent till June 1. The overall progress of the project is 86%.

Project Director Shafiqul Islam said, if there is no major problem or rains and floods, the work of laying road and railway slabs will be completed in the upcoming September. Then anyone can cross the bridge on foot if you want. There were some problems with the Corona situation and river erosion last year. Now it is over, he hoped that the Padma Bridge would be inaugurated next June. However, being able to cross the bridge on foot does not mean it will be open for human movement.

According to the progress report of the project, 2,917 concrete slabs are to be laid on the main bridge to make way for vehicles. 2,604 have been installed till June 1. A two-millimeter layer of water insulation, known as a waterproof membrane, will then be placed over the slab. It's a lot like a plastic cover. Then a few layers of pitch will be poured with stone, cement and bitumen. Its thickness is about 100 millimeters.

In addition, walls and road dividers should be provided on both sides of the road, which is known as parapet wall. If 12,390 concrete slabs are added, the walls will be completed. More than 10,500 parapet wall slabs have been installed. The remaining slabs of the parapet wall have also been made. The Padma Bridge will have street lights like other bridges. However, additional architectural lighting will be installed on the entire bridge. With it, the bridge can be illuminated in different colors on Special Day or any big occasion. Large installations, including the Burj Al Khalifa Tower in Dubai, have such lighting.

The main bridge over the river is made of steel structure (span) over the pillars. Its length is 6.15 kilometers. Outside, the main bridge is being connected to the ground by a sloping runway at both ends. The length of this flyover known as viaduct which is 3.68 km. In all, the total length of the bridge stands at 9.83 km. The viaduct is made with a pair of concrete slabs. At the Jajira end putting slabs together has done. There are only six slabs left in Mawa end. It will be completed by the middle of June.

Railway work progress:

Under the Padma Bridge project, the bridge department is constructing a railway on the main bridge and 532 meter flyover at both ends of the bridge. According to the bridge department, 2,959 concrete slabs are to be laid on the bridge to build the railway. Of these, 2,815 have been installed. Apart from this, the Ministry of Railways is responsible for constructing additional flyovers up to the ground, laying railway lines and operating trains. Railway is implementing a project worth around Tk 40,000 crore in this regard. Under this, construction work of 172 km broad gauge railway from Dhaka to Jessore is underway. The duration of the project is till 2024.

The work of the whole rail project has been divided into three phases. These are: construction of railway from Dhaka to Mawa, from Mawa to Bhanga and from Bhanga to Jessore. On the day of the inauguration of the bridge, the railway has decided to start train service from Mawa to Bhanga in Faridpur via Padma Bridge. The distance of this part is 42 km, the work has 77 percent done.

Now the work of laying the railway line and the station has to be completed. As per information, it will take six months to lay the 6.15 km long railway line over the bridge. The director of the Padma Rail Link project also sent a letter regarding this issue to the director of the bridge project in January. If the bridge is launched in June, the scheduled route will have to be completed at the beginning of January. More work remains to be done, including laying a gas pipeline next to the railway. Two separate companies for rail and bridge and two contractors cannot work together.

There are challenges in Padma River:

Last year's floods caused some complications after the Mawa construction site was submerged in the riverbed. Project officials say the preparations that have been made this time have reduced the risk of erosion inside the project area. However, the nature of the Padma River is complex. According to the bridge department, in the last flood, after digging in an area of ​​about one kilometer at the edge of Mawa, additional silt of about 20 meters has accumulated. There will have to be re-excavation. Besides, the work of river governance is still lagging behind the main bridge. The total progress of the work is 83.50 percent.

 

Expenditure on Padma Bridge:

The Padma Bridge project is being implemented by the Bridges Division under the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges. When the Padma Bridge project was approved by ECNEC in 2007, its cost was Tk 10,161 crore. Later the cost increased by three phases. So far, the total cost of the Padma Bridge estimated at Tk 30,193 crore. The deadline for completion of the project is set to be completed next June. In the next one year, if there is any defect in the bridge, the contractor will repair it and if there is any debt of the contractor, it will also be settled by the department.

Expert says, there is no big technical challenge on the Padma Bridge now and there is not financial problem. The construction of the bridge has taken more time. As a result, the sooner the bridge can be opened, the more people will get the benefits. This Padma Bridge Project is not just a necessity; it is a project to transform the economy of the whole country. It has become a huge investment, including the construction of expressways around it. So to take advantage of it, the bridge needs to be started quickly.

 

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Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga Expressway has been Inaugurated

Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga Expressway has been Inaugurated

The much-awaited country’ first 55-km-long Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga Expressway has been inaugurated on Thursday, 12 March 2020. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the expressway through a video conference from Ganabhaban on that day.

The expressway will reach to Bhanga of Faridpur from the Mayor Hanif flyover of Dhaka over the Padma Bridge over Munsiganj district. The expressway has separate lanes for different vehicles, flyovers to avoid crossing, underpass and other modern traffic systems and facilities. It will take only around 42 minutes to pass this 55 km long expressway, which is really a dream at this time.

This expressway designed with all the facilities of a modern express highway to ensure that the people can fully utilize the Padma Bridge, once it is constructed. With the launch of the Padma Bridge, this reality will happen. However, the people of South Bengal are getting the benefits right now. Because the 35 km route from Hanif flyover to Mawa will now take only 27 minutes.

Travel to Dhaka from Mawa will take less than an hour once the Padma Bridge construction is completed. Two parts of the expressway will be connected through the Padma Bridge. Recently, the 26th span was installed on the bridge and now it is visible for around four-kilometers long.

The construction of the Dhaka-Faridpur Bhanga 55km expressway began on July 2016 and was expected to finish by June 2019. In all, the project constructed at a cost of more than BD Taka 11 thousand. The whole expressway has been split into two sections due to the construction of Padma River Bridge. One part of this is from Jatrabari Mayor Hanif flyover, Dhaka to Mawa which 35 KM Long and the other part is from Pacchor to Bhanga, Faridpur which is 20 KM long. This is the first six-lane expressway in Bangladesh with service lanes on both sides.

Finally, the project was completed in the first week of this month. It has 44 culverts, 19 underpasses, four big bridges, 25 small bridges, five flyovers, two interchange and four railway overpasses. All of these were built at different points in order to ensure uninterrupted vehicular movement on this highway. Bangladesh Army was in charge of its construction. The highway is included in the Asian Highway Corridor. The 24 Engineer Construction Brigade of Bangladesh Army implemented the project under the supervision of Roads and Highways Department.

The 55-km long expressway will ease the travel from Khulna and Barishal divisions to Dhaka and it will definitely play an important role to the growth of national economy of Bangladesh.

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Dholaikhal Brand | Light Engineering Industry in Bangladesh

Nearly two hundred types of machineries, including engine parts, car parts in the country have become the 'Dholaikhal brand' with huge potential for production and marketing. More than eight lac peoples are involved in this sector at present. The Dholaikhal brand's craftsmen are seamlessly preparing everything from bicycles to cars, tractors, cranes, re-rolling mills and even train buggies.

According to a report from BUET, around 3,800 types of machines and parts are being manufactured in the light engineering industry of the country. Out of which 137 items are already being exported to 17 different countries in the world. The production of goods worth Tk 9,000 crore is possible against the demand of Tk 26,000 crore in the country.

The industry is so in demand in the country that buyers are booking entrepreneurs with advance money to make their parts. However, more than two decades ago, the required components were imported for various industrial sectors and transport sectors.

In addition to the Dholaikhal brand, the factory has been expanded in Jessore, Bogra, Sylhet, Chittagong and other parts of the country. There are 50,000 small and10,000 SME factories in the light engineering sector in the 18 districts of the country. Most of the workers here don’t have educational qualifications or technical education. They make perfect machine parts based-on their hands-on practical experience.

According to the estimates of the financial year 2016-2017, the exports from this industry were more than $ 86 Crore. But without incentives and other government facilities, the export revenue fell to $ 35 crore in the financial year 2017-2018.

The entrepreneurs and workers of the Dholaikhal brand have minimized foreign dependence by providing instruments and parts through sub-contracts in various government-owned enterprises. Various machines, parts and equipment is being supplied on a regular basis to Bangladesh Railway, Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation, Bangladesh Textiles Mills Corporation, Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation, Power Development Board, Department of Public Health Engineering, Ports and Maritime Authority, Bangladesh Internal Naval Authority, Bangladesh, Titas, Bakhrabad and Jalalabad Gas Companies, Sugar and Food Industry Corporation institutions.

Starting of this sector in Bangladesh:

According to information from BEIOA - Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners Association, the light engineering sector made its way through the start of some factories after 1971. At first, manufacturing parts for various industries and vehicles were limited. Later in 1986, the government adopted the 'Dholaikhal Jinjira Project' for the development and financing of the industry and a loan was given amount of Tk 5 crore. After that the sector developed and expanded. Later, the government adopted another 'Dholaikhal Jinjira Model Project' with an allotment of Tk 15 crore to spread the industry across the country. And now the number of factories has grown more than 50,000 across the country.

Problems in this Sector:

Currently, there is a 1 percent tariff and VAT exemption at the import level of capital machinery of the industry. This is helpful for normal industrialization. But the VAT during the current financial year of 2019-2020 seems unprecedented. Entrepreneurs in the sector want to exempt up to 5 percent advance tax on the import of capital equipment. While importing capital goods 1 percent tariff, the raw material tax need to pay in the country from 25 to 50 percent which is very high. Entrepreneurs in this sector demanding this tariff must be reduce.

Demand for setting up of modern industrial park:

Entrepreneurs want the government's initiative to set up a well-planned and modern industrial park where there is demand of light engineering products in the country. These industries should have their own power generation system, common facilities center, necessary waste treatment plant for protection of the environment, green park, safety and so on.

Demand for Establishment of Permanent Training Institute:

At present, the BEIOA - Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners Association is training the craftsmen of this sector to enhance their skills and meet the needs through Bangladesh Light Engineering Training Institute (BLETI). There are trade courses to create new artisans. Training is also taking place in different district cities outside Dhaka. However, there is no own infrastructure to handle these activities. As a result, the majority of the project's money is spending on rent. Recently, BEIOA has demanded Tk 20 crore from the government for the establishment of a permanent training institute for the development of the sector.

Entrepreneurs of this sector feel that training system, investment, technology, and industrial park establishment is urgently needed to achieve bigger success. The light industry is called the mother industry. The light engineering sector produces basically the equipment and machinery needed to set up an industry. Parts are also produced in this sector to keep the industry running. Even the light engineering works with servicing and maintenance.

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Economic Zone for Tannery Industry in Chattogram

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Economic Zone for Tannery Industry in Chattogram

The government is going to establish a special economic zone for tannery industries in the Bangabandhu Economic Zone of Mirsarai, Chattogram. For this tannery village around three hundred acres of land has been selected.

According to the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), it was decided to add two more tannery village after Savar to increase the production and capacity of the leather industry of the country. One of them will be in Rajshahi and the other will be in Chittagong. For this purpose, Ernest Money will be credited to the Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) in November.

While interacting with the leaders of the chambers at the Chittagong Circuit House, the Executive Chairman of BEZA, Mr. Pawan Chowdhury said that as a commercial city there is no leather or tannery village in Chittagong region. For this purpose, it is important to take long-term initiatives for the development of this industry concerned for the interest of the economy and the country. On that meeting he assured that special economic zone would be set up in the Mirsarai Economic Zone for the production of leather goods in order to revive and mobilize the potential tannery industry of Bangladesh.

The government of Bangladesh is establishing 100 economic zones with one-stop service facilities across the country. Of these, more than 30 are in Chittagong. Chittagong will be able to achieve its desired form as a commercial capital if all the projects adopted for infrastructure development are implemented in the region. Every year around 30 to 40 percent of leather collects from the Chittagong region but the tannery industry is under par in the area. Therefore, a specific industrial area for this industry and its associated industries will accelerate this sector which will be boosting the economy of the country.

There were total 22 Tannery industries in Kalurghat industrial area, Chattogram was established. Before the independence, in Kalurghat industrial area, only sixteen tannery factories were established. After the independence there were five or six more added. But now only two of the factory is running. Medina Tannery and Riff Leather are now active but recently Medina Tannery has been shut down due to lack of ETP. Tannery factories that shut down due to some leakage and facilities in Chatogram area are: Hilton (HRC), Zaman Rahman, Orient, Monty, Seiko Leather, Karnaphuli, Jubilee Tannery, Asia, Metropolitan, Chittagong Tannery and more.

The industry has collapsed due to lack of facilities in Chittagong area. In the Bayazid Bostami and Kalurghat, tannery industry was once a gathering. Inadequacy in bank credit facilities, environmental pollution, lack of seasonal leather supplies, market problems and export problems are the major causes of this industry's distress. However, in the greater Chittagong region the amount of animal leather collection is increasing every year.

In 1991 the TK Group established the last tannery factory in Chittagong named Riff Leather. At present Riff Leather is the only leather factory in Chittagong located in Kalurghat industrial area. This factory buys almost 5-7 percent of the raw leather. The remaining leather has to be sold to the tannery owners of Dhaka, some goes to trafficker’s hand.

Relevant business persons in this field said that it has become difficult to survive in this sector because of the lack of advanced technology used, modernization in the tanneries of Chittagong and product marketing in the international market. In order to protect the leather industry, government can arrange to provide bank loans at low interest rates for the tannery owners.

The owners, business persons of the industry welcomed the initiative to build a tannery village in Mirsarai. They say that in order to sustain the leather industry, there is a need to build an environmentally friendly tannery pavilion. They also said that higher tariffs on import of leather and leather products must be reduced and to ease the bureaucratic complexity.

On Wednesday (October 30) at the inauguration of the ‘3rd Bangladesh Leather Footwear and Leather Goods International Sourcing Show-2019’ in Dhaka the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced a financial incentive for the next five years to achieve the desired export earnings from the leather goods and footwear industry.

The Prime Minister said that equal opportunities and policy support would be ensured for all the export sectors of the country. Discriminatory barriers will be removed. The government is emphasizing economic diplomacy to connect importers of leather and footwear with exporters around the world. As a result, the leather goods and footwear industry has become the second largest export earning sector in the last decade. Now the income from this sector has taken place after ready-made garments.

She also said that in the last financial year, about $ 1.2 billion earnings was generated from the leather sector. If we can export our entire collected raw leathers by making finished product, we will be able to easily export $ 5 billion from this sector by 2022. She invited all foreign buyers and investors to invest in various industries of the country, especially in the leather and leather products industry.

The Prime Minister said at the occasion, the footwear and leather goods factories have expanded with encouragement and policy support during the last two periods of her government and there has been huge incentive for the investment. Now about 83% of the sector's export revenue comes from footwear and leather goods.

The government is implementing the Export Competitiveness for Jobs project under the Ministry of Commerce for the development of four priority sectors to achieve export diversification goals. The leather, leather goods and footwear industries are of them.

The Prime Minister expressed optimism that all those involved in the leather and footwear industry will come forward to achieve the goal of developing a middle-income Bangladesh by 2021 and a developed country by 2041.

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About BORI | Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute

Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (BORI) is the first and only national institution on Bangladesh that will be able to play an important role ensuring the development and utilization of the country's maritime resources and plays a leading role in the study of marine science. In the wake of Bangladesh's victory in the maritime boundary case with Myanmar on 18 March 2012 and India on 7 July 2014, Bangladesh has acquired 1,18,813 sq km ocean area, a special economic zone of 200 nautical miles, continent from Chittagong coast to 345 nautical miles.

If you can ensure the proper utilization of the resources of this area which is almost equal to Bangladesh's total land area, Bangladesh's economy will move at a rapid pace. Given the immense potential for the development of tourism, including the establishment of deep sea ports, development of coastal management, mineral resources and proper utilization of sea resources, the interest of the international community towards the sea-based economy (Blue Economy) of Bangladesh is increasing.

The potential of this newly-emerged sector in the country is limitless. For this reason, Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (BORI) will be able to play an important role in the study of maritime affairs and the creation of skilled manpower. The institute will work to conduct all activities as a focal point of Bangladesh at the national and international level on maritime affairs. The Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute will assist in conducting its own research, as well as the research work of other domestic foreign bodies, colleges and universities.

Establishment History:

• Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took the initiative in 1973 to establish a maritime research institute in order to enrich the country's economy and reduce poverty in the country by collecting and conserving valuable resources of the Bay of Bengal. But after the brutal and tragic massacre of Bangabandhu in 1975, the initiative ceased.

• Later in 1996, the Hon'ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina set up a review committee to establish the National Marine Science Institute.

• Following the recommendation of the review committee, the decision was made to establish a National Marine Science Research Institute in the 2000. The project titled "Establishment of National Marine Research Institute Phase-1" was adapted from June 2000 to July 2005 under the Ministry of Science and Technology to ensure the proper utilization of marine resources.

• In 2009 the visible progress of establishing Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute was achieved with the solemn initiative of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

• At the ECNEC meeting on 02/07/2009, when the proposal for establishing an institute on 4 acres of land was presented, the Prime Minister increased the amount of land to 40 acres. The prime Minister directed to re-present the project, including laboratories, residential buildings, marine aquariums and wind power, in the project area.

• Within 2010, the acquisition of 40 acres of land was completed at Jungle Goalia Palang Mouza in Ramu upazila of Cox's Bazar district. Currently, the project is being implemented at a cost of BD Taka 102.80 crore.

• Under the project titled "Establishment of National Oceanic Research Institute (1st Stage-2nd revised)", a three-storey institute building with laboratories, three officer's quarters, two staff quarters, director general's residence, staff dormitory, officer’s dormitory, club building, rest house, ansar bhaban and a school-cum-community buildings, a total of thirteen buildings have been constructed.

• Also 66 types of scientific research instruments for ocean research have been brought.

Present Workforce:

At present, total 14 peoples including 1 senior scientific officer, 3 scientific officers, 1 administrative officer, and other employees are working for the overall implementation of the project. Moreover, there are 16 Ansar guards for the security of the Institute and 8 daily based cleaners are working to keep the Institute clean.

Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (BORI) has been developed into a standalone institution. It is the first and only national institute of oceanography in Bangladesh. This organization will be able to play an important role in the innovation and development of the country's maritime resources and will play a leading role in revenue generation. Multiple research and development activities will be conducted in each of the research departments. Successful implementation of the current action plan will be possible through the development of sustainable technologies in the country, including poverty alleviation programs and the achievement of various UN development goals.

In future, research activities will be expanded. Bangladesh will emerge as a prosperous and developed country at the base of the earth through the use of maritime resources if it can effectively manage this institute for the purpose of undertaking maritime research activities, applying research findings and managing and controlling all related activities.

For more details please visit the official website of the BORI.

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Foreign Investment in Bangladesh is Increasing among all LDCs

Recently, Bangladesh has made big progress in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). In 2018, the maximum amount of FDI came in Bangladesh and it increased also among all the LDC countries across the world. Bangladesh has the highest growth rate among all the countries in South Asia. Last year, FDI rate increased by 68 percent compared to the previous year whereas the FDI rate was 13 percent decreased in the whole world. Hope more FDIs will come in this year as per previous contract and announcement of several companies of the World.

The latest international investment report of the United Nations Trade and Development Organization, UNCTAD, shows the picture of foreign investment in Bangladesh. According to the report published on 12 June 2019, in 2018 there was $ 3600 million net FDI in Bangladesh.

Japan Tobacco has invested 1500 million dollars last year through the purchase of local tobacco company Dhaka Tobacco which has had a positive impact on the overall investment and the economic zones of public-private partnership overall. UNCTAD this year report is based on the Special Economic Zones in Bangladesh. UNCTAD evaluates more deeply the recent investments in the economic zones of the country.

The Government of Bangladesh has already taken some initiatives that are attracting investment. Infrastructure development, gas and electricity supply system has been improved. The problem of land has been resolved by establishing new economic zones across the country. Besides, laws have been relaxed to facilitate the transactions of foreign investors. Various initiatives including one stop service have been taken to facilitate easy business process.

Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Kazi M Aminul Islam said, "Currently all the relevant related to investment in the country is now present." Infrastructure development has progressed a lot. One stop service for the investor has been started. Foreign entrepreneurs are finding the young manpower of Bangladesh as positive. Their confidence is increasing due to socioeconomic achievement. As a result, FDI is increasing. But there is still some problem due to bureaucratic complexity and old laws which needs reform. If there is a continuation of the current progress and some necessary reforms done then FDI will increase further.

According to the UNCTAD report, foreign direct investment in South Asia in 2018 was $ 5,400 Crore, which is 4 percent more than the previous year. Vast majority of this huge investment amount received by India. Last year foreign investment of India increased 6 percent to amount 4,200 crores. Although Bangladesh's total investment is low but growth rate is top in South Asia.

According to UNCTAD, last year the total FDI amount in LDCs stood at $ 2,380 Crore, which is 15 percent more than the previous year. Among the LDCs, the highest FDI came in Bangladesh. Myanmar got FDI equivalent to 360 million dollars in Bangladesh but it s 18 percent less than Myanmar's previous year's investment. Apart from attracting FDI, the top five countries in the LDCs are Ethiopia, Mozambique and Cambodia. Bangladesh is also at the top as a single company's investment.

Bangladesh is also the leading country to attract new or Greenfield investment. The report said that the United States General Electric, Japan's Mitsubishi and Summit jointly announced to invest $ 300 crore to build oil and gas terminals in Bangladesh. In addition, General Electric announced $ 300 crore investments in fossil fuel electric power in Bangladesh. China's Huadian Corporation has shown interest in investing around $ 1 billion in the same sector. In addition, General Electric last year made another $ 440 crore investment in power generation.

UNCTAD said in 2018 the FDI fell 13 percent to 1.3 trillion dollars around the Globe. After the global economic downturn this was the lowest in the last decade. But hopefully this year, FDI will increase further in some Asian and African countries. The organization thinks that special economic zones and natural resources on these continents are attracting foreign investors. FDI is coming for the developing economic zones of public-private partnership in Bangladesh. BIDA hopes that Bangladesh will receive $ 370 Crore FDI in the end of this year.

The government has constituted Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority or BEZA to speed up economic growth. Granting of setting up of 30 economic zones has been approved out of 24 is under construction. 4 economic zones are being built on the basis of international partnership. Besides, more than 60 economic zones are in the process of approval. Government planned to establish 100 economic zones across the country. There are also existing eight governments and one private Export Processing Zone - EPZ in the country. 72 percent of foreign investment has been invested in these EPZs. And 20 percent of the country's total export products are being manufactured from these factories.

Please visit the official website of UNCTAD for details about the report.

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Special Tourist Parks in Bangladesh | SEZ

Although there are lots of possibilities, Bangladesh is far behind in the tourism industries. At present, it is very hard to pull foreign tourists at the desired level. To solve this issue, the Government has planned to set up three special tourist parks in Cox's Bazar district to promote this sector nationally and internationally. These Specialized tourism areas will attracts huge number of tourists and create new jobs opportunities. The three special tourist parks are:

• SABRANG TOURISM PARK

• NAF TOURISM PARK (JALIARDWIP)

• SONADIA TOURISM PARK

Thousands of tourists in Thailand are gets crowded in just 2 kilometers long sea beach. On the other hand, the world's longest beach is the Cox's Bazar which has an unbroken length of 120 km (75 mi). But the number of tourists in the Cox's Bazar beach is comparatively little. Not just Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh has lots of attractive tourist’s spots such as Sundorbon, Mountains across the country, Kuakata sea beaches, Tea garden etc but tourism sector is still far behind in Bangladesh. The main reason is being mismanagement, environment, fail to provide international standard services etc.

To solve this issues as per plan of the Bangladesh Government with and BEZA (Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority) are working to set up three Special Tourist Zone to develop tourism sector of the country and attract foreign tourists. Of these, the Sabarang Tourism Park is being developed especially for foreign tourists with advanced and world class services. Investment here can be 3 billion US Dollars and employment facilities for at least 40 thousand people. And Naf and Sonadia Tourism Park is being built for everyone.

SABRANG TOURISM PARK:

It will be the first exclusive tourism park in Cox’s Bazar with a total land area of approximately 1027 acres. The Purest air, Sea and lagoon, Lofty hills together in Sabrang are exceptional and perfect for a special tourist’s attraction place. This place is an amazing hill and sea beach territory, multifaceted diverse and admirably beautiful with exclusive beach front.

• Location: Sabrang is in Teknaf upazila under Cox’s Bazar district.
• Road Connectivity: The place is five KM away from Teknaf town. Cox’s Bazar-Sabrang Marine Drive is the access road to the proposed Park which connects the National Highway (N1).
• Air Connectivity: Cox’s Bazar Airport is only 96 KM from the Park. It takes around one and half hour drive to the Park from the Airport.
• Port Connectivity: Teknaf Land Port is only nine KM away from this zone.
• Nearest River: Naaf River is only eight KM from the zone.
• Electricity: 10 MW Teknaf substation is located only seven KM away far and a new solar based power plant with a capacity of 20 MW has been proposed to build at Huyakong which is 20 km from the Sabrang Park.
• Telecommunication: Mobile connectivity is available here. Teknaf Telephone Exchange is only eight KM away from the zone. Fiber Optic Cable connection will be done by BTCL.
• Water Supply: Surface water is available around 3 KM areas of the zone. Four MLD water lines will be installed for drawing water from upstream of Sabrang.
• Tourism Industries: Eco-tourism, Hotel complexes, Business tourism, Recreational tourism, Sports and extreme tourism, Water tourism, Education & Health Tourism.
• The Sabrang Tourism Park is only half hour Sea cruise to St. Martin- a coral island.

NAF TOURISM PARK (JALIARDWIP):

Naf Tourism Park which planned to establish in total 271 acres of land will be the first island based tourism park in Bangladesh. It has scenic Beauty with a hill view on both Bangladesh and Myanmar (Burma). A cable car connection will be constructed from Ne-Taung Hill to Naf Tourism Park which will be approximately 8.5 KM long.

• Location: The zone is located on an egg-shaped island raised in the middle of the Naaf River in Teknaf Upazilla under Cox’s Bazar district.
• Road Connectivity: Located beside the Teknaf - Cox’s Bazar highway.
• Air Connectivity: Only 90 KM away from the Cox’s Bazar airport.
• Port Connectivity: The Teknaf Land Port is only 0.4 km from the proposed park.
• Tourism attractions in Naf Tourism Park: Theme cruise for St. Martin Coral Reef Island, 5-star hotel, Restaurant, Honeymoon Park, Multi formatted Food Court & Themed Pavilions, Jungle, jogging Tracks, Night Camps, Eco-Friendly Resorts Mini Golf Course, Light & Sound Show, Entertainment zone, Infant Swimming Pool, Sky Bridge Oceanerium, Water Sports Complex, Game Parlors, Birds Watch Tower, Harbor Bridge, Cable Car Hanging, Hanging Bridge etc.

SONADIA TOURISM PARK:

The Sonadia Eco-Tourism Park location is at Sonadia Island at Maheshkhali Upazila under Cox’s Bazar district.  Total approximate land area is of this zone is 9467 acres. The land has already been adopted by BEZA on March 27, 2017 from the district administration of Cox’s Bazar. The planned tourism park in Sonadia will create a lot of FDI and employment opportunity.

• Location: Sonadia Island is about 9 Square KM (3.5 Square Mile), offshore of the Cox’s Bazaar coast. The place is only 3 KM from Cox’s Bazar via the Maheshkhali channel.
• Environment: The western side of the island is sandy and the northern part is green.
• Tourism Facilities: BEZA will develop this zone as environment friendly Eco-Tourism Park, where maximum 30% of land may use as a part of truism attraction. The proposed main attractions will be Hotels & Resorts, Hanging Restaurant, Children Park, Eco-Cottage, Swimming Pool, Fun Lake, Aqua Park, Water sport, Gulf, International standard Hospital, University and Schools.
• BEZA has already taken the initiative for feasibility study and Master Plan to set up Eco-tourism park in Sonadia Island.
• To build eco-tourism parks in Sonadia, BEZA has initially planned to use only 30% of the space so that there is no adverse impact on the natural environment.
• Local residents living illegally now have been cultivating fish by creating illegal ways, which are very dangerous for environment and biodiversity.
• To build the eco-tourism park various illegal constructions in the proposed area will stop.

After the implementation of these three Special Tourism Parks, there will be a positive change in the tourism industry of Bangladesh. For information's please the official website of BEZA.

Thanks.

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