The government on Tuesday approved a project to establish a Chinese Export Processing Zone at Anwara in Chattorgram with the mandatory integration of renewable energy and waste management into the zone.
It also approved another project to check recurring flash floods in Feni, mainly triggered by a combination of relentless monsoon downpours and massive surges of upstream water from the Indian state of Tripura.
They are among the five projects approved by the executive committee of the National Economic Council in a meeting on the day with an overall cost of Tk 7003.36 crore.
Presided over by prime minister Tarique Rahman at the secretariat, the ECNEC attached priority to addressing environmental issues and incorporating sustainable energy solutions into the project design while approving the ‘Supporting Infrastructure Project for Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone’ project.
State minister for planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki told reporters at the briefing at the planning commission that the PM directed the installation of an advanced effluent treatment plant at the long-vaunted EPZ.
Conceived in 2016, the project did not get approval for various reasons, including delay in land acquisition.
Once implemented in 2031 at a cost of Tk 4,189.45 crore, the project will create at least 1,00,000 direct and indirect jobs and attract approximately $500 million in foreign investment.
Of the total project cost, the government will provide Tk 1,722.19 crore, while Tk 2,467.262 crore will come from project loans from China.
The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority and state-owned Chinese company-- China Road and Bridge Corporation -- will jointly build the EPZ on some 800 acres of land at Anwara upazila of Chattogram under a government-to-government initiative.
Zonayed Saki said that a series of measures was under way to improve the implementation rate of annual development programme and ensure efficient uses of public resources.
Planning ministry officials said that the Rehabilitation of Muhuri-Kahua Flood Control Drainage and Irrigation Project (phase-I) will cost Tk 1,542.16 crore and would be completed in 2031.
The aim of the project is to check sudden floods caused by swelling of trans-boundary rivers like the Muhuri, the Kuhua, and the Silonia — sometimes by as much as 11 feet in just a few hours — when upstream dams or barrages in India are opened following excessive rainfalls.
The ECNEC also approved the Karatoya River System Development Project and the first revision to the project for protecting Talbaria area under Mirpur upazila and Komorkandi at Shilaidaha union under Kumarkhali upazila in Kushtia district from erosion by the Padma River.
Besides, the third revision to the project titled ‘Establishment of One Technical School and College in Each of 100 Upazilas’ being implemented under the education ministry.
