Business Desk :
The government has cancelled the licenses of 10 economic zones, said Ashik Chowdhury, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) and Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza).
Speaking at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka this afternoon, he said the decision was made at a meeting with the chief adviser on Sunday.
The list of cancelled economic zones includes five government economic zones and five private economic zones.
The cancelled government economic zones are: Sonadia Eco Tourism Park, Cox’s Bazar; Sundarban Tourism, Bagerhat; Gajaria Economic Zone, Munshiganj; Shreepur Economic Zone, Gazipur; and Mymensingh Economic Zone, Ishwarganj Mymensingh.
The cancelled private economic zones are: ‘Garments Industries Park’ proposed by BGMEA, Munshiganj; Chatak Economic Zone, Sunamganj; Famkam Economic Zone, Bagerhat; City Special Economic Zone, Dhaka; and Sonargaon Economic Zone, Narayanganj.
During the previous government, Beza approved to establish 97 economic zones – 68 government and 29 private – nationwide.
“I have already said earlier that there is no need for 100 economic zones. Today, the licenses of 10 economic zones have been canceled. We think that these are not needed,” Ashik said.
“If economic zones are approved in the future, an inter-ministerial meeting will be held and ministries will have to commit that they will be able to properly provide their services to the economic zones. What happens now is that economic zones are approved, but investors do not get proper services year after year.”
The Bida chief highlighted the success of the recently concluded Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025, noting that 415 foreign delegates from 50 countries attended the event and investment proposals worth Tk3,100 crore were announced.
