Rangpur Export Processing Zone

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Rangpur Export Processing Zone
Location Gobindaganj, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Bangladesh
Address Gobindaganj, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Bangladesh
ManagerMajor General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman, BSP, NDC, PSC
Owner Prime Minister's Office, Bangladesh
Size254 acres
Website bepza.gov.bd

The Rangpur Export Processing Zone (abbreviated as Rangpur EPZ) is a proposed special economic zone in Gobindaganj, Gaibandha, within the Rangpur Division of Bangladesh. [1] [2] Land acquisition is currently underway, and once operational, this will be the tenth EPZ in the country. [3] [4]

Contents

Location

The proposed EPZ is situated in the Sahebganj Bazaar area, approximately 6 kilometers from Gobindaganj Upazila in Gaibandha District. The site is strategically located: 70 kilometers from Saidpur Airport, 32 kilometers from Hili Land Port, and 34 kilometers from the under-construction Bogura Airport. Additionally, it is 17 kilometers from Mahimaganj Railway Station and 32 kilometers from Gaibandha Railway Station, while the Dhaka-Rangpur Highway is just 7 kilometers away. These factors make the site highly convenient for logistics, transportation, and cargo supply, which is why BEPZA prioritized this location.[ citation needed ]

History and Establishment Controversy

On November 13, 2019, during the 34th meeting of the BEPZA Governing Board chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a decision was made to establish the 'Rangpur Export Processing Zone' (REPZ) on 1,842 acres of land from the sugarcane farm of Rangpur Sugar Mill in Sahebganj. [1] Accordingly, the Ministry of Industries instructed the transfer of this land to BEPZA. Previously, on November 6, 2016, an eviction drive conducted by sugar mill authorities and police on this land led to clashes with the Santal community, resulting in three deaths and several injuries. [5]

From the beginning, the local Santal community has opposed the establishment of the EPZ, claiming that the decision was made without proper consultation, disregarding their ancestral land rights and the opinions of both Santals and Bengalis. [6] [7] [8]

However, a section of the local population supports the establishment, believing it will transform the socio-economic condition of the region and create extensive employment opportunities. [8] [9] Recently, on December 10, 2022, a discussion organized by the Upazila Administration revealed that out of the 1,842 acres of land, 450 acres will be handed over to BEPZA, while the rest will be leased to Santals and Bengalis following legal procedures and priority considerations. [10]

See Also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Dream Destination: Rangpur EPZ". Jaijaidin . Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  2. ↑ "'EPZ to be Established on Sugar Mill Land in Gobindaganj'". www.kalerkantho.com. 2021-08-24. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  3. ↑ Islam, Fakhrul. "Three More EPZs Coming Soon". Daily Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  4. ↑ "EPZ Being Implemented on 450 Acres in Gobindaganj". dhakamail.com. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  5. ↑ "Demand to Cancel EPZ Construction Decision in Gobindaganj". banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 2022-05-28. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  6. ↑ Representative, Gaibandha. "Santals Protest EPZ Construction Plan in Gobindaganj". BDNews24.com (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 2023-01-25. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  7. ↑ Representative, Gaibandha. "Protests Against Eviction in the Name of EPZ Construction in Gobindaganj". BDNews24.com (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 2023-01-25. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  8. 1 2 "'Let Life Go, But Let the Land Stay' | Dainikbangla". www.dainikbangla.com.bd. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  9. ↑ "EPZ Will Unlock Potential in Gobindaganj". Barta24. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  10. ↑
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