BEPZA, IBF ink deal to establish hospital in KEPZ

The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) on Monday signed an agreement with the Islami Bank Foundation (IBF) to establish a hospital-cum-nursing institute in Karnaphuli Export Processing Zone (KEPZ).

BEPZA Executive Director (Admin) Md Zakir Hossain Chowdhury and IBF Executive Director Engineer Mohammad Ali signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations at BEPZA Executive Office in the capital, read a press release.

The IBF will initially set up a hospital in the unused land and buildings of the Northern Area Reduction of Poverty Initiative (NARI) project of KEPZ, which will later be developed into a Hospital cum Nursing Institute.

BEPZA Executive Chairman Major General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman said, “BEPZA has been conducting different activities as a part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) work, along with contributing to the economic development of the country.

“As a part of it, the BEPZA signed an agreement with IBF to set up a hospital-cum-nursing institute in the unused land and buildings of the NARI project of KEPZ.”

He hoped that the IBF would operate this hospital for providing the best services. IBF Chairman Professor Qazi Shahidul Alam said they are playing an important role in providing health care services along with banking services. He hoped that the people of this area would get better health care services through the establishment of the hospital in KEPZ.

“BEPZA employees and EPZ workers will get health care services at a reduced cost from this hospital,” he added.

The NARI project was undertaken to facilitate employment opportunities for vulnerable women from the Northern part of Bangladesh, especially from Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts in the EPZ enterprises.

Dormitory and training centres were constructed in Dhaka, Ishwardi and Karnaphuli EPZ under this project where around 10 thousand women received technical & life skill training.

After the completion of the project, the buildings of KEPZ remained unused. Therefore, the BEPZA leased out these buildings to establish the hospital cum nursing training institute.

Among others, BEPZA Member (Investment Promotion) Ali Reza Mazid, Member (Engineering) Mohammad Faruque Alam, Member (Finance) Nafisa Banu, Executive Director (Public Relations) Nazma Binte Alamgir, Executive Director (KEPZ) Md Jillur Rahman, IBF Independent Director Dr Mohammad Saleh Jahur, and high officials of BEPZA and IBF were present during the signing ceremony.