Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City (BHTC) is a business park in Kaliakair of Gazipur District, Bangladesh. Originally called Kaliakoir Hi-Tech Park, after the municipality in which it is located, it was renamed in June 2016 to honor the founding father of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Many companies have invested in this sector.
History
The hi-tech park was formally proposed in June 1999 at a meeting of the Board of Investment. A feasibility study was conducted in 2001 by the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. A boundary wall was constructed in 2008. A further assessment was performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2009. It said that one advantage of the location was that land acquisition was complete. In 2010, the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA) was formed to regulate and operate hi-tech business parks in the country.
By June 2015, the authority had awarded contracts for basic infrastructure. One of two parts of a bypass road for local residents was complete, as was an internal access road. Construction had begun on sewer lines and a sewage treatment plant; the boundary wall was being extended to enclose an expected expansion, and replaced where it had been demolished during other construction; installation of street lighting was underway; and refurbishment of a three-storey building built in 2009 but not yet occupied was in progress.
The original 232 acres (94 ha) site is divided into five blocks. Block 1 is reserved for government use. Blocks 2 and 5 are being built by Summit Technopolis, a joint venture between Summit Group of Bangladesh and Infinity Infotech Parks of India. Bangladesh TechnoSity is developing Block 3. As of 2020, Block 4 has not been awarded. Summit Technopolis broke ground on their portion on 28 February 2016. By June of that year, the project had been expanded to 355 acres (144 ha).
Economy
The government offers various incentives to attract investors and tenants, such as tax breaks and exemptions on import duties.
As of November 2020, five companies are manufacturing in the park, employing 13,000 workers. Hyundai Motor Company has a manufacturing plant in this city.
References
- ^ "Kaliakoir hi-tech park renamed". The Daily Observer. UNB. 1 June 2016.
- ^ "Summit Technopolis begins building hi-tech park". The Daily Star. 29 February 2016.
- Project Formulation Study for the Establishment of Hi-Tech Park at Kaliakoir, Gazipur (PDF) (Report). Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. July 2002. p. 1.
- ^ "Support to Development of Kaliakoir Hi-Tech Park Project: Progress Report (July 2014-June 2015)" (PDF). Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority. pp. 17–18 20–23 25–26.
- "Bangladesh Private Sector Development Support Project – Economic Zones Development Assignment" (PDF). PricewaterhouseCoopers. August 2009. p. 21 – via Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority.
- "TechnoSity to invest $25.8m in hi-tech park". The Daily Star. 2015-08-12. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
- "NBR widens tax waiver for investors in hi-tech parks". New Age. 7 December 2018.
- "Hi-Tech Park - Prospective Gateway of Investment & Employment" (PDF). Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority. 10 April 2019.
- "37 companies get land allotment at Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City". The Financial Express. Dhaka. 2 November 2020.
- "'মেড ইন বাংলাদেশ' হুন্দাই রাস্তায় নামছে আগামী বছর" ["Made in Bangladesh" Hyundai to hit the streets from next year]. The Daily Star (in Bengali). 2 December 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.