The long-discussed Chinese economic zone project in Chattogram is set to receive government approval ahead of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to Beijing later this month, potentially reviving an initiative that has remained under consideration for nearly a decade.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) is expected to approve the “Supporting Infrastructure Project for Chinese Economic Zone” at its meeting on 9 June.
The project has been included on the agenda less than three weeks before the prime minister’s scheduled visit to China from 23 to 26 June.
According to Planning Commission officials, the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone will be developed on around 783 acres of land in the Belchura area of Anwara upazila on the eastern bank of the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram.
The site is located about two kilometres from the Bangabandhu Tunnel, making it strategically important for trade and industrial activities.
The infrastructure development project has been estimated to cost Tk4,056 crore.
Of the total amount, Tk2,136 crore is expected to come as Chinese loan assistance, while the remainder will be financed by the Bangladesh government.
Officials involved with the project say the zone is intended to attract greater Chinese investment to Bangladesh and strengthen industrial cooperation between the two countries.
They believe the initiative could help increase foreign direct investment, diversify export products and create significant employment opportunities.
The project is also expected to support industrialisation, facilitate technology transfer and improve Bangladesh’s competitiveness in international markets.
Sources said China Road and Bridge Corporation will implement the project on behalf of the Chinese government under a government-to-government arrangement.
The authorities aim to complete the infrastructure works by June 2029.
The project includes the construction of a jetty, a connecting road linking the jetty to the economic zone, a central effluent treatment plant and other supporting infrastructure required for industrial operations.
Officials say the economic zone could generate around 100,000 jobs by 2031 if the project is implemented as planned.
Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) Executive Member for Planning and Development Major General (retd) Md Nazrul Islam said the development would also help increase the use of the Bangabandhu Tunnel, a major infrastructure project beneath the Karnaphuli River that has yet to achieve its expected traffic volume.
He said the zone is expected to host industries including ready-made garments, garment accessories, light engineering and leather manufacturing, as well as other export-oriented sectors aimed at diversifying Bangladesh’s export basket.
The project could also encourage domestic production of garment accessories that are currently imported, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers, he added.
According to Beza officials, the project was first announced during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Dhaka in 2016 as part of efforts to attract greater Chinese investment to Bangladesh.
However, progress remained stalled for years because of delays in approving the Development Project Proposal, difficulties in finalising agreements with developers, changes in project developers and uncertainty over financing arrangements.
Officials familiar with the project said that although it was initiated during the previous Awami League administration, it did not remain among the government’s top priorities in subsequent years. They said the proposal also faced lengthy delays in securing approval from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Momentum returned after the interim government’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus visited China, when efforts were intensified to secure approval for the project’s development proposal and advance implementation plans.
Since taking office, the BNP government has accelerated work on the initiative, officials said. After nearly a decade of delays, the project has now reached the final stage of the approval process.
Other projects on Ecnec agenda
The Chinese economic zone proposal is one of 13 new and revised projects scheduled for consideration at the 12th meeting of Ecnec on 9 June.
The meeting will begin at 10am in the Cabinet Division conference room at the Secretariat and will be chaired by Prime Minister and Ecnec Chairperson Tarique Rahman.
Among the new projects seeking approval are the first phase of the Barishal Irrigation Project maintenance and rehabilitation programme, a scheme aimed at resolving waterlogging and promoting sustainable development in the greater Jashore region, the construction of integrated upazila land complexes, a new city corporation headquarters for Mymensingh, the upgrading of the Anwara-Banshkhali-Toitong-Pekua-Badarkhali-Chakaria regional highway, and the second phase of the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute expansion project.
Ecnec is also expected to review several revised and extended projects including the third revision of the Khulna Shipyard road widening project, a programme to construct circuit houses and deputy commissioners’ offices in all 64 districts, revisions and an extension to the Chandmukhi and adjoining development project, the first revision of the Dhaka Combined Military Hospital cancer centre development project, the fifth revision of the Madrasa Education Management and Information System support project, an extension of a programme to establish multimedia classrooms in 343 madrasas, and the first revision of a project to expand the capacity of grid substations and transmission lines.
