Govt scraps Indian Economic Zone in Mirsarai, opts for defence industrial park
PARBATTANEWS DESK
The interim government has decided in principle to cancel the land allocation for the proposed Indian Economic Zone in Chattogram’s Mirsarai and build a large “Defence Industrial Park” on the site.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the governing board of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) at the Chief Adviser’s Office in Tejgaon on Monday, chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.
BIDA and BEZA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun announced the move at a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy on Bailey Road later in the day. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam was present.
Ashik said around 850 acres in Mirsarai had previously been allocated for the Indian Economic Zone under a G2G framework, but it has now been removed from that arrangement.
He said factories would be set up on the vacated land to produce arms and defence equipment.
“The global defence industry is expanding rapidly, and Bangladesh has an opportunity to enter this sector as a participating country,” Ashik said, adding that the park also aims to secure the country’s supply chain for military equipment.
He said the project would be incorporated into BEZA’s master plan.
Explaining the rationale, Ashik cited recent global conflicts and said shortages in wars often involve basic items, not high-end systems.
“Shortages are not in fifth- or sixth-generation fighters — the shortages are in bullets, and in components like tank axles,” he said.
Ashik said the Armed Forces Division, BEZA, the Chief Adviser’s Office and the Ministry of Defence have been working together for a long time on where Bangladesh could play a role.
The meeting also took policy decisions to establish the country’s first free trade zone in Anwara, Chattogram, and to turn the Kushtia Sugar Mill into a full-fledged industrial park.
