First consignment of products made in Bangabandhu industrial city delivered

The McDonald Steel Building Products Ltd delivered the first consignment of its products manufactured in the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar, the largest industrial city in the country.

"On 23 March, the joint venture company shipped 20 tonnes of steel to the Bangladesh Bridge Authority," Ferdous Wahid, an assistant engineer at the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza), which oversees different economic zones, told The Business Standard on Wednesday.

"For a while, the company has been conducting experimental production of galvanised and prefabricated steel sheets. They are the first factory in the industrial city to deliver a consignment of goods," he added.

The Nippon Steel Corporation of Japan and McDonald Steel Building Products of Bangladesh jointly set up the steel plant on 10 acres of land with an investment of Tk114 crore in Chattogram in the south-eastern region of Bangladesh.

The plant went into experimental production on 25 January this year.

Abdullah Al Mahmud Faruk, director of the industry city development project, told TBS that in addition to McDonald Steel, Asian Paints is gearing up to go into production this year.

"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the factory. The construction of a few more companies is nearing completion," he added. 

On a recent visit to the industrial city, this correspondent saw that the work of the Mirsarai part of the project was progressing fast. On the other hand, Sitakunda and Sonagazi parts awaited land allotments.

About 6,000 acres of land in that part have already been filled with earth. At present, roads, bridges and other infrastructures are being constructed. Authorities are installing gas and electricity lines in various factories under construction. In addition, solar systems have been installed for roads inside the industrial city.

Healthcare Pharma was also seen continuing its activity on 40 acres of land, Bangladesh Auto Industries on 100 acres, SQ Cable on 40 acres, Jinguan on 10 acres, Modern Syntex on 20 acres, Berger Paints on 30 acres and Nippon and other companies on 100 acres.

Besides, Bashundhara Group is rapidly preparing their zone on 500 acres of land in the industrial city.

Local companies Samuda Foods and Berger Paints Bangladesh are planning to open their factories by 2023.

Among the special zones, the construction of the Bepza Economic Zone on 1,150 acres of land has taken off. On the other hand, the 500-acre garment village and the 500-acre SBG Economic Zone have not seen any development yet.