Major General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman took over as the Chairman of Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) on Sunday. He replaced Major General Md Nazrul Islam. Before joining BEPZA, Ziaur Rahman was General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 7 Infantry Division. Prior to that, he served as the Defence Adviser to the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, India. His military career spanned over command, staff and instructional appointments. He served as Logistics Staff Officer and also as Operations, Planning & Intelligence Staff Officer at Brigade, Army Training & Doctrine Command and Army Headquarters. READ: Agreement signed to speed up development of BEPZA EZ Ziaur Rahman also served in the prestigious appointment of ‘Directing Staff’ at the Defence Services Command and Staff College of Bangladesh and Instructor at Bangladesh Military Academy. In his decorated service life, Major General Ziaur Rahman also served at various capacities at Battalion level. READ: BEPZA gives highest priority to workers’ safety, welfare: Law Minister Besides, he has served at the UN mission in Haiti and Sudan.

Geographical location, inexpensive and easily trainable workforce and moderate production cost have helped Bangladesh become an attractive investment destination, Law Minister Anisul Huq said Sunday. “The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) always attaches the highest priority to the safety and security of the workers. It’s reflected through workers-owners-management synergy prevailing in the EPZs,” the minister said. He was speaking as the chief guest at the launch of BEPZA Helpline for EPZ workers at BEPZA Complex in the capital.  Huq said the government has taken different initiatives to ensure rights and privileges of the workers, adding that the country has achieved tremendous economic growth during the last decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza) on Saturday extended the holidays for all factories at the eight Export Processing Zones (EPZs) until April 25 in a bid to limit the transmission of coronavirus.