Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Md. Mostaqur Rahman has said that the private sector is playing a very important role in accelerating the country's economic development and creating employment.
He said, "Banks, entrepreneurs, various institutions and all stakeholders must work together to implement the 'One Village, One Product' concept to strengthen the rural economy by utilizing potential local entrepreneurs and products."
He said this while speaking as the chief guest at a view-sharing meeting organized at the Bangladesh Bank office in Rangpur on Saturday on the effective implementation of the incentive package announced by Bangladesh Bank for the development of the private sector.
Bangladesh Bank's Rangpur office organized this event for stakeholders in the Rangpur region with the aim of accelerating private sector development, creating entrepreneurship, increasing employment, and revitalizing the local economy.
The meeting was presided over by Md. Salah Uddin, Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank's Rangpur office.
Bankers, civil society representatives, entrepreneurs, businessmen, farmer representatives, heads of various government institutions, other stakeholders, and journalists from different parts of Rangpur division participated in the event.
Participants shared their views and experiences and provided various suggestions on private sector development, financing for entrepreneurs, expanding local production and trade, and the effective implementation of the stimulus package announced by Bangladesh Bank.
The meeting laid special emphasis on the concept of 'One Village, One Product'. It highlighted the issues of identifying potential local products and entrepreneurs, increasing production, expanding markets, and ensuring necessary financing.
In addition, the branding and marketing of local products with high potential to reach a wide domestic and international market, and the bringing of related entrepreneurs under the umbrella of banking services were also discussed.
The Governor called on all stakeholders to work together to implement the concept of 'One Village, One Product', in addition to the effective implementation of the incentive package announced for the development of the private sector.
He also suggested using the hotline number 16236 for direct communication between customers and Bangladesh Bank.
He urged the concerned banks to take effective steps to ensure that the benefits of the incentive package announced by Bangladesh Bank reach genuine and eligible entrepreneurs.
At the same time, he placed special emphasis on expanding the market for entrepreneurs' products, facilitating financing opportunities, and further dynamizing local economic activities.
The exchange of views emphasized the need for coordinated efforts by all parties concerned to advance initiatives such as establishing cold storage facilities in the Rangpur region, developing renewable energy, expanding export-oriented agricultural and industrial products, and developing human resources.
Export operations have begun at BEPZA Economic Zone-2 at Mirsharai in Chattogram with a UAE and Singaporean-owned enterprise exporting tobacco machinery worth $50,000 to Indonesia, said a press release.
Lee’s Tobacco Machinery Company Limited, the first exporting enterprise of the economic zone, received its inaugural export permission from Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority on September 3 and made the shipment to Indonesia on September 8, said a press release.
Lee’s Tobacco Machinery Company Limited, the first exporting enterprise of the economic zone, received its inaugural export permission from Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority on September 3 and made the shipment to Indonesia on September 8, said a press release.The development marks the entry of BEPZA Economic Zone-2 into its operational phase and brings the total number of operational industrial zones under BEPZA to 10, comprising eight export processing zones and two economic zones. Lee’s Tobacco Machinery signed a land lease agreement with BEPZA on February 3, 2025. Its current investment stands at $3.72 million, creating employment for 29 officers, staff and workers.
Of the 18 enterprises allotted industrial plots in BEPZA Economic Zone-2, Lee’s Tobacco Machinery is the first to commence commercial operations.
Three more enterprises are expected to begin production and export activities soon, while the remaining 14 are currently under construction.
Md Whaheduzzaman, executive director of BEPZA Economic Zone-2, has said the volume of Bangladesh’s exports to Indonesia remains comparatively low.
‘In this context, the commencement of exports from BEPZA Economic Zone-2 to Indonesia is expected to contribute positively to expanding Bangladesh’s export market and diversifying its export destinations,’ he said.
BEPZA Economic Zone was established on 1,138.55 acres of land at Mirsharai in Chattogram.
To facilitate smooth administrative and operational management, the large industrial zone was divided into two separate zones, namely BEPZA Economic Zone-1 and BEPZA Economic Zone-2.
The government has already officially declared both as distinct economic zones.
