Rupganj turns into industrial hub

Being very close to Dhaka and easy waterway communication through Shitalakhhya River Rupganj Upazila in Narayanganj has become one of the ideal places for industrial development.

Many industries including jute and textile factories started to develop in the region before even pre-liberation period due to time and money-saving features of the area.

At the end of 1980 the country’s largest city group developed its oil refining factory in the area. It was a milestone in turning the area into an industrial hub.

Towards the end of 1990 it began to develop roads which inspired highly the leading companies of the country to set up factories in the area.

Besides, many small and medium-sized factories have been set up in the locality over the years, adding a new feature of hustle and bustle of busy industrial town.

Many more industries are in the pipeline to utilize its geographical benefits as its distance is only 35km from Dhaka and located on the bank of the Shitalakhhya River.

According to the data of Industrial Police-14, Narayanganj, a total of 379 industries have been developed in Rupgonj.

Of them, 35 industries were set up by Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), five by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), 28 by Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), 25 by re-rolling mills owners and 286 by others.

Thanks to waterway and highway offering easy communication for heavyweight products to be manufactured and packaged including steel, chemicals and ceramics, food, soft drinks, edible oil, rice, pulse, spices, soap, cement, concrete, water and sugar in the area.

Besides, many light industries including tissue, paper, medicines and bakery have been developed

Apart from them, City Group and many other renowned companies like Gazi, ACI, RFL, Square Pharmaceuticals, Glove, Meghna, Partex and Rongdhanu came up with investment and developed factories in the area.

Mura Para Union Chairman Tofayel Ahmed Almas said just two decades back, there were no industries in Mura Para Union.

But over the past two decades more than 25 industries had been developed in the union and many industries were in the pipeline. This industrial development has changed socio-economic development and overall life style of the people, he said.

Md Shajahan Bhuiyan, Rupgonj Upazila Chairman, says there are more than 700-800 factories in the area which have made employment for more than 1.5 lakh of people of the locality.

The factories have been developed in the region since the pre-liberation period. But the factories started to increase in the post war period after developing communication.

After coming into power in 1996 the ruling party Awami League focused on highway development which inspired the industrialists to invest.

Consequently, the area turned into one of the hubs of industries and the number of industries is gradually increasing. “We are very hopeful about further industrial development as there is a congenial industry-friendly atmosphere.”

Reasons for preferring the area

Apart from the giant companies many small and medium-sized companies are choosing the area to develop factories thanks to its geographical benefits.

According to the industrialists, they can carry goods and raw materials from the port through waterway easily and can carry them through the highway to sell them in the capital because of its close proximity with Dhaka.

Emdadul Haq Babul, Income Tax Adviser of Rongdhanu Group, said as the area is located on the bank of river the industries that manufacture and package heavy goods like oil, water, salt, cement, soft drinks choose the area.

It is possible to transport goods from the ports directly thanks to easy and convenient communication. “We are packaging oil, water, spices, rice, pulse and soft drinks here and invested nearly 50 crore,” he added.

Afzal Food Products has invested nearly TK100crore in the area in processing flour, atta and lentil.

Mehfooz Alam, the owner of the company, said they developed factory in the area as it was very close to Dhaka.

“Besides, we can transport goods through waterway. I can sell products in Barishal and Jholokathi too. Gradually, the business is growing,” he added.

Impact on life and livelihood of people

The industrial development has impacted the overall life and livelihood of the people of the locality. Many people were unemployed in the areas who are now employed in the factories.

Besides, as industries are developing many roads have been developed in the areas which have made the lives of people easier at Rupganj.

As a result of developing many industries the area witnessed socio-economic change. Thousands of people of the area have found employment. The fate of the area started to change. Many people are involving themselves in such factories.

According to the data of Industrial Police, the industries made employment for 1 lakh people. Of them, 55 thousands are women.

Tania Akter, a resident of Kayetpara union, said she had to starve as she had to depend largely on her husband’s income. The scenario changed after she joined a factory as worker.

“Now, I can contribute to my family. Thousands of women have become self-sufficient thanks to industrial development in the region,” she added.

Md Shajahan Bhuiyan, Rupganj Upazila Chairman, said industries came as blessing for changing the lot of the people of the locality.

The factories have made employment for more than 1.5 lakh people of the locality, he added.

City Group’s Purbagaon Economic Zone

Recently, the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) has issued pre-qualification license to privately-run Purbagaon Economic Zone (EZ) located at Kayet Para Union under Rupganj Upazila in Narayanganj district.

City Group, a leading business house of the country, is developing Purbagaon EZ Steel Mill. Chemicals and ceramic plants will also be set up in this economic zone.

According to BEZA, the zone is being established on 94 acres of land on the bank of river Shitalakhhya and adjacent to Dhaka-Sylhet Highway. There is a plan to expand the EZ to 150 acres in future.

City Group Chairman Fazlur Rahman said initially, Tk10, 000crore will be invested in establishing Purbagaon Economic Zone, which will provide employment to about 11,000 people.

Earlier, in a video conference with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Fazlur Rahman said they had invested nearly TK5000 crore in the economic zone.

They have planned to invest TK15000 crore more. After completing the economic jones it will make employment of more than 12000 people.

Biswajit Saha, GM (Finance & Accounts) of the City Group, said the area is very convenient for industries as it is very close to Dhaka and on the bank of river. The City Group is utilizing the geographical advantage properly.

Major transformation

Though some industries including jute and textile developed in the area at the pre-liberation war time most of the land has been used for cultivation. Just two decades ago, many lands of Rupgonj were used as field where different crops were cultivated.

Even, many crops were sent to the capital from the area. But the scenario has undergone a big change over the years. Now, most of the areas are used to manufacture or process products. Even, it is very hard to find any useless land.

Mostafa Mia (57), a resident of Doriyakandi, said when he was a child most of the lands were used to cultivate crops or grow cattle. But the areas have now turned into a hub of factories.

Twenty years back many crops including jute, cauliflower, tomatoes, spinach were cultivated in the area but now different types of goods are being manufactured here.

Hardly any land can be found that has not been sold yet. In the last 20 years, many companies have purchased lands and developed factories.

Suitable place for dockyards

As many industries have been developed in the areas, movements of ships are increasing. Everyday many ships are coming and going to and from the area. As a result, the area has become suitable for dockyards.

According to the source of dockyards, more than 50 dockyards have already been set up in the area and many more are coming down the pipeline.

Metacentre, the fastest growing versatile complete ship solution company in Bangladesh, has developed dockyard on the bank of the river.

Production Manager Md Milon said they went to the area as it is very close to Dhaka and ships can reach there every day. He said they were making speed boats that might cost Tk40 lakh.

King Fisher In-Charge Md Borhan said they had a dockyard on the bank of Meghna River. It is very costly to go to the dockyard on the bank of Meghna. But it is less costly at Rupganj.

Besides, ships can easily reach the area which is within close proximity of the capital.

Investment turns effective

The companies invested in the areas turned very much effective as many of them are witnessing rapid growth.

Md AbdurRazzak, Product Manager of the Sky View Concrete Products Ltd. said they get necessary materials including sand and stone from Sylhet and Sunamganj through both waterway and highway.

He said as it is prohibited to develop industry in Dhaka they have chosen the area. “Currently we are producing nearly 12,000 concretes monthly. We are planning to increase with the demand growing.”

Mehfooz Alam, the owner of company said: “We have set up factory in the area as it is very close to Dhaka. Besides, we can transport goods through the waterway. Gradually, the business is growing.”

Challenges and demands of industrialists

Although Rupganj witnessed significant development of roads over the years still many roads areas are not prepared properly as an industrial area demand. Besides, many areas are out of gas supply. As a result, the industrial activities are being hampered.

On the other hand, many industrialists alleged that they were forced to pay money to locally powerful people.

The industrialists demanded the roads be repaired as soon as possible and gas supply be ensured for every union to develop the area as a proper industrial area. They also called for stopping extortion by local toughs.

However, local people alleged that the industrials were unwilling to employ locals in their industries out of fear which was an exaggeration.

Mohammad Shahid, a resident of Murapara Union, said the locality had witnessed development over the years but he was still unemployed as the authorities of factories were unwilling to recruit local people. They are recruiting women but not men.

Md Asaduzzaman, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Industrial Police-4, Narayanganj, said the police department was working to ensure congenial industrial atmosphere.

“We are deploying police to ensure security and each factory of the area will come under CC TV coverage soon to ensure congenial atmosphere. If more industries are set up we will deploy more forces. It can boost government and private EPZs through government patronizing. If we can do it successfully it will boost further investment,” he hoped.