In Narsingdi BSCIC industrial city, an expansion was carried out at a cost of nearly Tk 90 crore, citing unfavorable conditions in the old BSCIC industrial city.
Over 150 plots were created, but due to poor management, industries have not yet developed. Business owners attribute the fragile situation to corruption and favoritism by the previous government.
In 1986, a 15.39-acre plot of land in Shibpur, Narsingdi, was used to establish the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) industrial city. Despite almost four decades having passed since then, the area remained underdeveloped and faced numerous issues, prompting the decision to expand it.
In 2015, 30 acres of land in Syednagar, in the same upazila, were acquired for Tk 88.4 crore to expand the project. The work was completed by June 2022, and the project was finished in October 2023. However, no significant industrial establishments have emerged, with only two sheds and a personal house visible in the area.
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Business owners say that although adequate facilities such as gas and electricity are provided, genuine industrialists and entrepreneurs have not been allocated plots. The plots were given to those with the backing of the former government's industrial minister and political leaders, leaving real business owners deprived. As a result, the industrial city faces a shortage of industries.
Meanwhile, business leaders argue that although there is a need for industrial expansion, the government's wrong policies regarding plot allocation have caused the project to fail. They demand a reevaluation and the handing over of plots to genuine entrepreneurs, along with further expansion of BSCIC to a much larger area.
When asked who received the allocation for the more than 150 plots in the expanded area, BSCIC officials could not provide an answer even after 15 days. They also stated that the list of beneficiaries must be obtained from the Ministry.
Mohammad Rashed Hossain Chowdhury, Narsingdi Deputy Commissioner (DC) stated, "Notices have already been issued to those who have not yet set up industrial establishments. If satisfactory responses are not received, action will be taken, including cancellation of plots through appropriate legal procedures."
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"If the 263 plots, including 95 in the old BSCIC and 168 in the new area, are utilized properly, it will contribute to the expansion of small and cottage industries in Narsingdi and create employment for millions of people," he added.