
The Sylhet Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hi-Tech Park known as Sylhet Electronics City will be a new attractive tourist place when it will start full functioning by April this year.
Sylhet will get a new shape in a new format through the Hi-Tech Park (Electronic City) expected State Minister for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak.
The city of Sylhet will get enlightened by Hi-Tech Park and it will also create thousands of employment opportunities there said the junior minister recently.
Zunaid Ahmed Palak said in order to achieving the vision 2021 through the use of ICT in all strata of life, the government has been working sincerely in a planned ‘IT eco-system’.
The final destination of the eco-system is to create employment opportunities through the establishment of knowledge-based industries in general and IT/ITES and advanced Hi-tech industries in particular as well as expanding the business arena of IT entrepreneurs both locally and globally.
Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority Managing Director Hosne Ara Begum said the Sylhet Hi Tech Park will open a new era for the country’s youths, especially the freshers from colleges and universities.
On the other hand, it would open huge opportunities for the region as well as for the seven sister states of India, which are close to Sylhet, she added.
Besides, the NRBs (Non Resident Bangladeshi), especially the Sylhet-origin people in the UK and USA would have a new scope for investment. Special tax holiday and incentive programme are there for the investors on the Sylhet Hi-Tech Park.
Sylhet Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hi-Tech Park Project Director Barrister Md Golam Sorwar Bhuiyan said that the Sylhet Hi Tech Park, known as Sylhet Electronic City is being established on a 162.83 acre area in Companiganj upazila of Sylhet. It is only 20 km off the city.
The site includes specific zones for industrial belt, ICT business zone, administrative area, community facility, infrastructure zone while separate zone would be there as water body. About 60 percent works of the project are complete. Some 50 entrepreneurs have already applied for plots at the park, he said.
Work for a state-of-the-art high-tech park may be completed in Sylhet in April. Project Director Md. Golam Sarwar said “Construction is underway for the High Tech Park keeping the natural beauty of Sylhet unsullied.”
As per the prime minister’s order, the construction of the park began on Feb 4, 2018, over 162.83 acres of Keraniganj’s Borni village. The initiative has already been welcomed by foreign investors.
Golam Sarwar also said “With the directive of the Prime Minister and IT adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy, work is being carried out swiftly.”
After this is completed, improved software, electronic items and parts will be manufactured in Sylhet, he added.
Deputy Project Director Firoj Ahmed said the project has featured 31,000 square feet IT business centre, cable-bridge, gas and power sub-stations.
Already, 30 km power line has been pulled, said the deputy project director.
The gas line will be connected shortly and Jalalabad Gas has been given Tk 620 million from the project fund for the connection, he added.
The project manager added “once the work is complete, investors can come and this will provide employment to 50,000 young people.”