Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to open Sirajganj Economic Zone through a video conference from her official residence at Gono Bhaban in Dhaka tomorrow.

This 1,035-acre zone established on the west bank of the Jamuna river in Sirajganj will house 400 factories of 11 big and small companies, said Sheikh Monwar Hossain, director of the economic zone. “We expect businesses will invest around Tk 3,200 crore in the zone and the investment will increase rapidly,” he said.

At the initial stage, the economic zone can employ some 10,000 people, which is expected to reach five lakh in the next five years, Hossain said. “This labour-intensive project will create the highest number of job opportunities in the country as an economic zone.”

Investments will be made in the fields of textile and knitwear, agro products, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, liquefied natural gas, leather-based companies, electronics and ICT, furniture and power generation, he said.

Land development work of the economic zone started at the beginning of 2019 and plots will be ready for allotment within June next year, he said.

The zone is directly connected to the northern part of the country by road, river, rail and air. It is also connected with neighbouring India, Nepal and Bhutan through land ports in Burimari, Hili and Banglabandha.

The economic zone would also have access to Chattogram and Mongla seaports through the proposed inland container depot on the Western side of Bangabandhu bridge.