Government of Bangladesh has formally approved nine new economic zones, covering 4,574 acres, including two government, two government-to-government (G2G), and five private zones. These approvals, confirmed during the 8th BEZA Governing Board meeting, aim to boost investment and job creation. Notable developments include China’s 3,037-acre zone in Chandpur and Bhutan’s 200-acre zone in Kurigram, alongside major private initiatives by Meghna Group, City Group, and Liz Fashion.
However, investors remain frustrated by delays in gas and electricity connections, which are essential for industrial operations. Meghna Group’s chairman highlighted the severe impact of these shortages, despite a $600 million investment in Cumilla. BEZA’s Executive Chairman acknowledged the issue, stressing the need for inter-ministerial coordination and phased development guided by environmental standards.
To address these bottlenecks, the energy department has directed utilities to prioritize gas supply for export-oriented industries. A time-bound plan requires Petro-Bangla to enhance pressure and halve system loss by June 2026. BEZA also launched a two-year utility infrastructure plan for five priority zones, targeting $5.5 billion in investment and 250,000 jobs. Going forward, all zone approvals will be aligned with feasibility studies and service delivery commitments.
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