The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) will establish the country’s first Defence Industrial Zone in Mirsarai, Chattogram, and the first Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Anwara of the same district.
BEZA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun announced the decision at a press conference on Monday following a meeting of the Investment Promotion Agency (IPA), chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, at the Foreign Service Academy.
He said the Defence Industrial Zone will be developed on around 850 acres in Mirsarai, while the Free Trade Zone will be set up on 600 acres in Anwara. BEZA has already consulted the Armed Forces Division regarding the defence manufacturing zone.
Initially, the defence zone will focus on producing basic military equipment to meet local demand, with export potential in the future, Ashik said, adding that several countries have shown interest in investing in the project.
The Free Trade Zone will allow countries to store goods without customs barriers, boosting trade and transit opportunities through the Bay of Bengal. Ashik noted that setting up the FTZ would require amendments to several laws, with policy work currently underway.
He also said BEZA plans to revive the Kushtia Sugar Mill on 200 acres of land and expand its jurisdiction to 331 municipalities to protect agricultural land.
The initiatives aim to promote planned industrialisation while safeguarding farmland, he added.
