The BSCIC industrial city in Meherpur is yet go into full operation even after 16 years of its journey as entrepreneurs are showing little interest to set up factories due to lack of necessary facilities.
Entrepreneurs are turning away from setting up factories in the BSCIC industrial city as the authorities have taken no initiative to provide them with facilities and ensure security, sources said.
Businessmen, while talking to the Bangladesh Post, said that the BSCIC authorities have not taken an initiative to create new entrepreneurs for the industrial city in Meherpur.
When contacted, an official of Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) said they are trying to solve the problems facing the entrepreneurs.
The BSCIC industrial city in Meherpur was supposed to be bustling with the workers of factories and entrepreneurs. But it has virtually has turned into a jungle.
Since its launch in 2007, the BSCIC city built on 10 acres of land is yet become fully operational. Out of a total of 70 plots,
Some 68 plots, out of 70 plots, have been allotted to 35 industrial companies in the BSCIC city.
At present, only nine industrial establishments in the BSCIC city are in operation. The BSCIC city has remained unprotected due to lack of boundary wall and frequent incidents of theft and robbery.
Entrepreneurs alleged that there is not enough water, electricity and drainage system in the BSCIC industrial city and as a result, they are reluctant to expand their activities.
Factory owners said that the authorities have not taken any step to solve the problems despite repeated complaints. As a result, the allotted plots are lying vacant.
Industrialists say that due to the communication problem, no big industry has been set up in the district. Moreover, entrepreneurs are blaming the coordination meeting of the owners of the industrial establishments with the BSCIC authorities. In this situation, the business community is not interested in setting up new industrial establishments.
Mominul Haque, the owner of a factory in the BSCIC industrial city, said that new industrial entrepreneurs are not being created due to lack of necessary facilities.
General Secretary of Chamber of Commerce, Meherpur, Ariful Enam Bakul said that the problems are not being solved due to lack of communication between the BSCIC officers and the plot owners here. The meeting with the BSCIC workers that was supposed to be held with them did not happen once. In order to get out of this situation, BSCIC officials have to play a more responsible role.
Aminul Islam Khokon, Vice President of BSCIC Association told that now, they have reached the brink of destruction due to the indifference of BSCIC officials. They do not feel the need to know the condition of any of our industrial establishments. Apparently they are here to pass the time and because of this the plot owners in Meherpur do not build new factories; Focused on building big houses. Meherpur BSCIC Office Deputy Manager Enam Ahmed further added that efforts are underway to solve the problems here. They are repeatedly giving notices to the owners of the fallen plots but they are not heeding our words. BSCIC will return to its original form when industrial plants are built on all the plots that are lying . They are working on this.