Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has emphasised the importance of transforming Bangladesh’s economic zones into green, modern, and investment-friendly industrial hubs by ensuring a balance between industrialisation and environmental protection.

He made the call while presiding over a meeting of Governing Board of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) at Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division of Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday.

The governing board of BEZA made several important decisions aimed at expanding the country’s economic zones, increasing investment, creating employment opportunities, and protecting the environment, said Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Md Suzauddhowla Sujon Mahmud.

According to him, as part of the government’s nationwide 25 crore tree plantation programme, trees will be planted in every Export Processing Zone (EPZ) across the country. Under this initiative, a total of 125,000 trees will be planted in various EPZs.

Mahmud said the initiative aims to maintain environmental balance alongside industrialization, increase green coverage, and make the economic zones more environmentally friendly.

He said the meeting reviewed the progress in implementing the decisions taken in the previous meeting of the board.

Discussions were also held on establishing new economic zones, reviewing the evaluation of private economic zones, and ensuring the optimal use of unused state-owned industrial assets, he said.

The deputy press secretary said the meeting examined the possibility of utilizing the land and existing infrastructure of Karim Jute Mills and Latif Bawany Jute Mills Limited in Narayanganj for economic activities.

The meeting stressed attracting both domestic and foreign investment, creating employment opportunities, and stimulating the local economy by establishing modern industries there, according to Mahmud.

Discussions were also held on ensuring compliance with the prescribed guidelines for applications and licensing of private economic zones, as well as formulating new policies in this regard, he added.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Industries and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, Road Transport and Bridges, Railways, and Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun attended the meeting.