Barguna BSCIC estate off to a slow start

Only eight out of 61 plots have so far been allotted in the BSCIC industrial estate in Barguna as entrepreneurs are not showing much enthusiasm in securing land for higher costs in the coastal district well-known for agricultural produce and fisheries.  

As a result, common reed, a species of tall grass with a tuft of soft downy white flowers, has covered the open space of the estate set up by the

Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC).

In 2011, the government approved a project worth Tk 7.8 crore to establish the estate in the district town with a view to developing industries and creating 2,200 jobs.

The district administration acquired 10.20 acres of land in Croc in December 2014 and handed it over to the BSCIC.

But as the site was not developed on time, the project cost increased by Tk 11.16 crore and the deadline was extended to 2016 in the first revision.

The contractor failed to make the project ready even during the extended period, forcing the government to push back the deadline to December 2018 and raise the cost to Tk 18.80 crore.

In December 2020, the BSCIC Barguna was finally ready to award plots to prospective entrepreneurs.

Sixty-one plots in three categories -- A, B and C -- have been prepared for entrepreneurs.

There are 27 plots in the 'A' category with each having 6,000 square feet of area, while 19 'B' type plots have a 4,500-square-feet of area and 15 'C' category plots have 3,500 square feet of area each.

But in the last two years, only eight plots could be allotted to small industrialists.

Among the initial plot owners are Sabbir Ahmed and Mohammad Zubayer.

The two entrepreneurs have formed a joint venture company and are now working to set up the necessary infrastructure for a bakery factory and an oil mill, both over 6,000 square feet of area.

The bakery is expected to go into production by next month where bread, biscuits and other food items will be produced.

The oil mill, which is expected to begin production in March, will process sunflower oil, said Ahmed. 

Mir Khairul Ahsan, Iqbal Hussain and Wali Ullah, all residents of the Barguna town, did not make the initial payments after getting the allotment of plots. So, the allotment has been cancelled.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Ahsan called the price of the plots very high.

The price of each decimal of land has been fixed at Tk 2 lakh. As a result, the price of the plot that he received stood at around Tk 27 lakh.

"It is very difficult to make a profit after buying a piece of land at such a high price. Besides, there are costs to set up factories, begin production and paying wages to the workers," Ahsan said.

Kazi Tofajjel Haque, deputy manager of the Barguna BSCIC, said initially, the agency had awarded 20 plots, but the allotment of 16 plots had to be cancelled due to the recipients' failure to make down payments by June this year.

Later, 16 more plots were awarded, but down payments have been made against only four plots. The allotment for the remaining 12 plots has been cancelled.

Regarding the entrepreneurs' objection to the price of the plot, Haque said, "The price of the plot has been determined on the basis of the cost of the project."

According to the official, the Barguna BSCIC has tried its best to create interest among the entrepreneurs in taking the plots. 

"I met with the deputy commissioner and the Barguna Chamber of Commerce and Industries. We hope half of the plots can be allotted this year."

Abdur Rashid, president of the district chapter of the National Association of Small & Cottage Industries of Bangladesh (NASCIB), says efforts are being made to generate interest among the small industrialists so that they come forward, take the plots and set up industries in the BSCIC industrial estate.

"We hope that the plots will be allocated quickly and small industrialists will set up factories and start production."

Jahangir Kabir, president of the Barguna Chamber of Commerce and Industries, says agriculture and fisheries are the mainstays of the economy in the coastal district.

"No industry has been established here. If entrepreneurs from outside of the district come forward, we will help them."

Habibur Rahman, deputy commissioner and president of the Barguna BSCIC, said, is also hopeful of awarding more plots by the end of 2022.

"All the plots will be allotted by June next year," he said.