Bogura small industry estate has no space for new entrepreneurs

An entrepreneur is planning to set up a titles factory at a cost of Tk300 crore. But what is delaying his venture is land crisis. 

Sajjadur Rahman has applied for 30 acres of land under the expansion project of the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) industrial estate in Bogura.  

Another businessman, Azizar Rahman Milton, has also applied for 50 acres of land. 

Like them, many entrepreneurs are looking for plots to establish factories.

But the BSCIC authorities cannot respond to any of those applicants as all the plots have already been allocated.

The industrial estate was set up on 14.5 acres of land at Fulbari in Bogura municipal area in 1964. As all 79 industrial plots were allotted in 1980, the estate was expanded on another 19 acres of land, according to sources at the BSCIC. 

Under the new project, all 154 plots have also been distributed.

Now no plot is left to allocate for entrepreneurs for setting up factories, said BSCIC officials.

AKM Mahfuzur Rahman, an official of the Bogura BSCIC Industrial Estate Expansion Project, said they are going to take up a large-scale revised project to solve land crisis.  

In May, they have sent a proposal to the authorities concerned for a Tk400 crore project on 300 acres of land in Shahjahanpur upazila, he added.

Once the project is implemented, many entrepreneurs can set up factories, and at least Tk2,000 crore can be invested in it. 

Besides, more than 50,000 people will get jobs.

At present 4,000 people are employed in different industries erected on 233 plots in Bogura. 

While talking to this correspondent, Shantana, a worker, said she has been working in Milton Engineering for about nine years. She now earns Tk6,000 per month.

Shantana said if the new project is implemented, many people like her will get jobs. 

Light engineering, textiles, food and other related factories will be set up under the new project.