Muktagacha BSCIC plots left untouched for 32 years

The development of an industrial area in Muktagacha upazila of Mymensingh has barely begun even though more than three decades have passed since the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) initiated the plan.

With a view to establishing an industrial enclave in Satashia town beside the Mymensingh-Tangail highway, 5.20 acres of arable land was acquired in 1991. However, only the construction of a boundary wall and land filling has been completed in the past 32 years.

As per the project proposal, mainly fruit processing units and cold storages for vegetables would be set up at the estate, where 38 plots were put up for allocation through a gazette in 2015.

While the land acquisition process was completed some three decades ago, the boundary wall was finally constructed just four months back. Still, the main entrance lacks a proper gate and security measures. In addition, influential people are using the unused plots as nurseries or vegetables gardens, locals say.

As the industrial area is situated near the borders of three agriculturally inclined districts -- Mymensingh, Jamalpur and Tangail -- it has a lot of potential as a vegetable storage and food processing zone.

Besides, it is also well connected with other districts, such as Dhaka, they said.

Md Akbar Ali Sarker, chairman of Kumargata union, said huge amounts of agricultural produce are grown in the region.

Other than Muktagacha, Phulbaria upazila in Mymensingh and Madhupur Forest in Tangail provide copious amounts of fruits and vegetables as well.

"So, the region is very promising for setting up an agri-based estate," he added.

While lamenting that the project is yet to begin in earnest, Sarker said businesspeople in Mymensingh as well as other parts of the country would benefit from the industrial area, which would create thousands of opportunities for direct and indirect employment.

The union chairman went on to say the plots would be quickly allocated if the BSCIC advertises them properly.

"If the estate is built, it would help many small-and-medium entrepreneurs to grow their business," said Azad Abul Kalam, a schoolteacher.

AKM Lutfor Rahman, upazila nirbahi officer of Muktagacha, said he and other officials of the local administration recently spoke to the officials concerned for expediting the project.

Md Abdus Salam, deputy general manager of the BSCIC office in Mymensingh, said businesspeople showed little interest in securing plots as the price of each decimal of land was set at Tk 2 lakh, 70 per cent of which would have to be paid in advance.

Needless to say, the cost was too high for most small-and-medium entrepreneurs at the time.

Now though, the situation has changed as land prices are now several times higher, making plots inside the estate seem like bargain.

"So, we are preparing a list of entrepreneurs as pre-plan work to send it to the higher authorities," Salam said.

A proposal for setting up gates, a drainage system, inner road network and culverts will also be forwarded for the allocation of necessary funds, he added.

Salam then said a stable supply of electricity and water needs to be ensured before starting operations in the industrial area.

A BSCIC official, seeking anonymity, said it remains totally uncertain when the estate may finally be open for business.

The BSCIC usually allocates industrial plots for entrepreneurs only after ensuring the necessary facilities, including proper roads and the availability of electricity and water, but no such facilities are available as of yet at the proposed economic enclave.