CHATTOGRAM, Dec 20: The Chattogram WASA and the authorities of BEZA are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of a water treatment plant with a capacity of 900 million litres.
The plant will be located at the junction of the Padma, Meghna, and Dakatia rivers at Chandpur point, with construction expected to begin in the middle of next year.
The project, to be developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), aims to supply water to stakeholders of the Mirsarai Industrial Park, according to PPP Authority sources.
The transaction adviser appointed for the project has already submitted the revised final report of the feasibility study. Discussions are ongoing between BEZA, Chattogram WASA, the Public-Private Partnership Authority, and other concerned departments over the report submitted by the Italian firm ITU.
The project will include the installation of 132 km of pipelines to supply water to the industrial park. Chattogram WASA is set to spend Tk 10,000 crore on the project.
The Shilpa Nagar in Mirsarai has already commenced operations. On November 22 last year, four industrial units, projects, and facilities, including the administrative buildings of Shilpa Nagar, were inaugurated. Additionally, the foundation stone for a 50 million litres per day (MLD) water treatment plant set up by BEZA was laid.
The Shilpa Nagar site is strategically located 200 km from Dhaka, 60 km from Chattogram, 70 km from Chattogram Port and Shah Amanat International Airport, and 330 km from Sylhet. The BSMSN Master Plan area covers two districts, three upazilas, six unions, and comprises 26 mouzas.
The objective of Shilpa Nagar is to provide a cost-effective, safe, and efficient road network for all users, especially between Mirsarai Economic Zone and the capital Dhaka, as well as the port city Chattogram through the Dhaka-Chattogram National Highway. This specialized roadway aims to facilitate the movement of goods to and from the economic zone, thereby accelerating the country's economic development through industrialisation and job creation.
According to the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), 153 companies have been allotted 6,500 acres of land for setting up factories. Once fully operational, Shilpa Nagar is expected to create around 1.5 million jobs. Currently, eight industrial units have commenced commercial operations, with 21 others in various stages of construction.
The industrial sector's untreated water demand is projected to rise significantly, reaching 364 million litres per day (MLD) by 2025, 516 MLD by 2030, 730 MLD by 2035, and 1,033 MLD by 2040. Presently, BEZA relies on 50 deep tube wells to meet water requirements.
"Arrangements are being made to fetch water from the Meghna River to provide an uninterrupted supply to Shilpa Nagar for 100 years. If these projects are implemented, the standard of living in Chattogram will improve and the economy will get a boost," said Fazlullah.
South Korean firm Taeyoung Engineering and Construction Co Ltd has expressed interest in investing in the PPP project, with the main project cost estimated at Tk 8,952 crore. Additionally, work on an associated land acquisition project is underway, potentially bringing the total project cost to around Tk 10,000 crore.
Meanwhile, the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar has recently been renamed the National Special Economic Zone following the fall of the Awami League regime.
