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High-level bilateral meeting between BGMEA and BEZIA at BGMEA Complex in Uttara
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Investors Association (BEZIA) convened a high-level bilateral meeting today to streamline fresh investment and address critical infrastructural and policy-related hurdles in economic zones.
The meeting was held at the BGMEA Complex in Uttara, Dhaka, according to an official press release.
BEZIA President M A Jabbar led his association's delegation, while BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan headed the BGMEA team. The meeting was attended by BEZIA Vice-President Md Halimuzzaman, Director Delwar H Titu, CEO Dr. Aparupa Chowdhury, and member Md Mustafizur Rahman. BGMEA Vice-President (Finance) Mijanur Rahman also joined the discussion.
Discussions focused on the progress of land plots across five government economic zones prioritized for full operationalization under the government's short-term agenda, as well as regulatory obstacles confronting investors. M A Jabbar highlighted that while many entrepreneurs have deposited substantial funds for plots, delays in basic infrastructure and utility delivery have caused severe operational uncertainty. He noted that across 39,000 acres in these five zones, only 27 enterprises are currently operational, representing merely 37 percent of total allocated land.
Both trade bodies emphasized the necessity of uninterrupted gas and industrial water supplies, urging joint advocacy against premature service charges levied before factories achieve commercial production. Consequently, BGMEA and BEZIA agreed to jointly submit several key policy proposals to top government authorities.
Key recommendations include a total waiver of BEZA-imposed service charges on utilities until uninterrupted services are guaranteed, alongside equal sector-wise cash incentives for economic zone units to ensure parity with factories operating outside the zones. The leaders also called for eliminating double taxation resulting from 15 percent VAT charged at both master-lease and sub-lease levels, alongside a full VAT exemption on lease tariffs. Furthermore, to reduce administrative delays, they urged allowing deemed exports to domestic bond-licensed exporters without requiring EXP and EP documents.
The meeting further stressed making 99-year lease mutations bankable and ensuring the functional implementation of One-Stop Services (OSS). Highlighting that 41 BGMEA units are located in the National Special Economic Zone at Mirsarai, Chattogram, M A Jabbar invited BGMEA to nominate a representative to the BEZIA Board of Directors to strengthen inter-organizational coordination. BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan accepted the proposal, committing to nominate a representative shortly.
Both leaderships expressed optimism that joint policy advocacy would prompt the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) to take immediate measures to resolve policy and infrastructure bottlenecks.
