Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) has granted a pre-qualification licence to Kishoreganj Economic Zone, a concern of Nitol Niloy Group.

The KEZ is expected to create jobs for 15,000 people within the first five years of operations.

The licence was awarded at a ceremony at the Sonargaon hotel in Dhaka on Monday, according to a statement of Nitol Niloy Group.

Md Abul Kalam Azad, chief coordinator for Sustainable Development Goals Affairs under the Prime Minister's Office, Abdul Matlub Ahmad, chairman of Nitol Niloy Group, Paban Chowdhury, executive chairman of the BEZA, and Md Harunur Rashid, executive member of the BEZA, attended the ceremony.

The KEZ will be set up on 91.63 acres of land in Pakundia upazila near the Bhairab-Kishoreganj highway.

Azad hoped that KEZ would play an extraordinary role in fostering economic development in the industrially neglected Haor areas.

The zone will also create jobs, attract local and foreign investment and boost economic growth, said the statement.

The economic zone is connected with gas and electricity networks and is close to Gochihata rail station on the Bhairab-Kishoreganj rail route. Besides, the zone will house water treatment and waste treatment plants, and fire fighting arrangements, said Paban Chowdhury.