Masudur Rahman, who completed graduation from Sirajganj Government College, is desperately looking for a job to support his family.

Every week, he travels to Dhaka from the northern district to attend tests and interviews for jobs. But he will prefer a job in his locality as it will give him the opportunity to take care of his elderly parents and other family members.

'If I can manage a job in my locality, it will be great," the 26-year-old told The Daily Star. 

Like Rahman, thousands of youths, both male and female, move to Dhaka from the northern part of the country every year in search of jobs. The majority of them end up being employed at garment factories and other industries.

But the people in Sirajganj can expect to find more jobs in their locality in less than two years as the work to set up the the Sirajganj Economic Zone (SEZ) is going on in full swing.

In 2019, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the zone, which is expected to generate around five lakh jobs and reduce poverty in the area.

A consortium of 11 companies has been developing the private economic zone on 1,041.43 acres of land. Once completed, it will be the country's largest private economic zone.

Located on the bank of the Jamuna, it will offer opportunities to set up heavy industries.

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

The zone's authority has allocated 110 acres of land to 14 investors.

The companies include Apex Footwear, Continental Garments Industries (Private), Dynamic Dredging, MK Chemical Industries, Ratul Fabric, Active Composite Mills, Rising Holdings, Rising Spinning Mills, Jessore Feed, Square Accessories, and Square Electronics.

The SEZ has inked a detailed engineering plan agreement with the Japan Development Institute, which will provide engineering support for land development.

"We need more than three months to draw up the plan," said Md Shahidur Rahman, general manager of the zone.

The SEZ is expected to host textile and knitwear, food processing, pharmaceuticals, leather, automobile engineering, LPG manufacturing, steel manufacturing, fisheries, and shipbuilding industries.

Out of 1,041.43 acres of land, the SEZ is developing 450 acres of land in the first phase. Almost 80 per cent of the earth-filling work has already been completed, according to Shahidur.

Gas and power networks and roads are being established.

"The development work is progressing fast. If everything goes well, the zone will begin its journey by the beginning of 2023," he told The Daily Star.   

He says the economic zone has already drawn the attention of foreign investors from China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and the US. Some local investors have also expressed interest to set up factories, mostly textile.

Md Nabidul Islam, chairman of Saydabad union under Sirajganj Sadar upazila, says the economic zone will reduce the unemployment rate among youths.

"If youths can work locally, it will benefit the general people and improve the standard of living."

Sheikh Monowar Hossain, project director of the SEZ, says the zone will facilitate both local and foreign investment.

"This zone will employ five lakh people and draw significant foreign investment. It will help ease pressure on Dhaka's job markets."

About 50 acres of land have been allocated to host people displaced by the zone. Modern facilities will be ensured for the displaced people, said Hossain.

In the first year after the opening of the zone, around 10,000 jobs will be created in textile, knitwear, agro-based food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, automobile, leather, steel, electronics, furniture, power plants and other export-oriented industries.