The recently concluded four-day Bangladesh Investment Summit has secured commitments worth Tk 3,100 crore, according to Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA). The government spent Tk 1.45 crore to organise the event, which aimed to boost domestic and foreign investments in the country. Speaking at a press briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy on Bailey Road in Dhaka on Sunday (April 13), Ashik Chowdhury emphasised the importance of hosting one or more investment conferences annually to further stimulate investment growth. He noted that while the success of the conference would ultimately be judged over time, it generated significant interest and was comparable in quality to international conferences.
"Even if it didn’t score ten out of ten, there was a lot of interest in the conference. It was of the same standard as conferences held abroad," he said.
Cancellation of 10 economic zones
During the briefing, Ashik Chowdhury also announced that the government has decided to cancel 10 economic zones across the country. This decision was made during a meeting with top officials of BIDA and the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), chaired by *Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday.
The cancelled economic zones include: Sonadia Eco-Tourism Park in Cox’s Bazar, Sundarbans Tourism Park in Bagerhat, Gazaria Economic Zone in Munshiganj, Shreepur Economic Zone in Gazipur, Mymensingh Economic Zone in Mymensingh, BGMEA Garment Industry Park in Munshiganj, Chhatak Economic Zone in Sunamganj, Fomcom Economic Zone in Bagerhat, City Special Economic Zonein Dhaka, and Sonargaon Economic Zone in Narayanganj
The decision to cancel these zones reflects the government’s efforts to streamline ongoing projects and focus on initiatives with higher potential for economic impact.
Committee formed for 3rd terminal at Dhaka airport
In the same meeting, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus ordered the formation of a committee to oversee the establishment of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. This move underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing infrastructure and accommodating growing passenger traffic at the airport.
A strategic shift in economic priorities
The cancellation of underperforming economic zones and the push for high-impact projects like the third terminal at Shahjalal Airport highlight the government’s focus on optimizing resources and prioritizing sustainable development.
Meanwhile, the success of the investment conference signals growing investor confidence in Bangladesh’s economy, paving the way for increased investments in the future.