A policy decision has been taken to allow the establishment of economic zones within municipal areas, reflecting a shift in approach in response to changing ground realities.
The information was shared on Monday at a press briefing at the Bangladesh Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka by Ashik Chowdhury, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).
He said municipalities had previously been kept outside the jurisdiction of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) under the 2012 law. However, the situation has changed over time, with the number of municipalities increasing from around 309 to 331.
Against this backdrop, Ashik Chowdhury said restricting economic zones to areas outside municipalities often forces the use of agricultural land, which is more damaging in the long run. To address this, a policy “direction change” has been made to open up the option of approving economic zones within municipal boundaries.
He also pointed out that many closed industrial units are located inside municipal areas. Reviving economic activities in such facilities, he said, requires allowing economic zones within municipalities.
Officials believe that if implemented, the policy shift could ease pressure on agricultural land, enable the reuse of idle or closed industrial facilities in urban areas, and create new avenues for city-based investment.
