BEPZA Executive Chairman Major General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman. File Photo

DHAKA, April 11, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) is expected to start allocating plots for investors in Patuakhali Export Processing Zone (EPZ) from early 2026. 

"The land development work of Patuakhali EPZ has already been started. Around 55 percent work has been completed. The development work will be completed by June, 2026. But we may start allocating plots from early 2026. Factory construction work and land development will continue simultaneously," said BEPZA Executive Chairman Major General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman.

In a recent interview with BSS, Ziaur Rahman said BEPZA is setting up the EPZ to take advantage of the increased connectivity offered by Padma Bridge and Payra Port.

Industries in the Patuakhali EPZ will strategically benefit from easy access to imported raw materials and export facilities, he added.

He hoped that the EPZ will help increase the country's export earnings and create employment opportunities that will contribute to the socioeconomic development of the southwestern region of Bangladesh.

Ziaur Rahman, however, said the new EPZ featuring 306 industrial plots is being built on 410.78 acres of land in Pachakoralia Mouza of Auliapur union under Patuakhali sadar upazila.

He said the EPZ is expected to create employment opportunities for around one lakh people.
 
According to BEPZA, the Patuakhali EPZ is being constructed at a cost of Tk 1,443 crore. Of the project cost, the government offered Tk 1,105 crore and Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza) Tk 338 crore.

The infrastructures, being developed under the Patuakhali EPZ project, include 3.15 lakh metres of roads, around 30,000 metres of drainage, four six-storey factory buildings, three 10-story office buildings, four six-story and three 10-storey residential buildings, zone office, customs office, and security office, a helipad and 54 rehabilitation houses for landowners affected by the project.

The project will also have substations inside its boundary to ensure uninterrupted power supply.

There are currently eight EPZs in Bangladesh, namely the Chittagong EPZ, Dhaka EPZ, Mongla EPZ, Ishwardi EPZ, Cumilla EPZ, Uttara EPZ, Adamji EPZ and Karnaphuli EPZ.