Mirsharai National Economic Zone is the largest economic zone in Bangladesh, covering about 34,000 acres. Although the project has been in development for over a decade, numerous complaints have been reported. Investors struggle to get enough water, gas, and electricity to run their operations. As a result, visible investment in the area is still very low. So far, no major factories have been built, and the zone has had little impact on job creation.
On the other hand, environmental damage is becoming a serious concern. Large parts of coastal forest land have been taken over for the project, threatening the local wildlife. Many believe that instead of bringing benefits, this economic zone has caused more harm, especially to the environment.
The plan to develop this special economic zone in Mirsharai began in 2012. It is located near the Sandwip Channel of the Bay of Bengal, spanning 33,805 acres of land along the coastal areas of Mirsharai in Chattogram and Sonagazi in Feni. Of this, 22,335 acres were forest land. To support the country’s economic growth, the Forest Department handed over this large area—rich in natural and planted forests—to the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA).
But these forests weren’t just ordinary green spaces. They were home to many plant species that protect the coastline and a wide range of wildlife. Sadly, around 1.35 million trees have already been cut down for infrastructure development, and many animals have disappeared or moved elsewhere.
This ambitious project was designed to attract local and foreign investment in industrial production, create jobs, and boost foreign currency through exports. To make this happen, even vital coastal forest protections were loosened. Originally, plans were made to reforest about 19,945 acres and use some areas for open and non-industrial spaces. However, even after over 12 years, the project has failed to achieve its key goals.
Since the promised developments haven’t materialized, the once-protected coastal forest has become exposed and vulnerable. This raises serious concerns about the risk of major environmental disasters in the future.
People involved in the project say that due to a lack of large, available land for industrial zones in the country, the government chose the coastal char areas for development. Mirsharai and Feni were chosen because they are located near the Dhaka-Chattogram highway and are well-connected to Chattogram Port and the capital. The plan, led by the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), aimed to attract massive local and foreign investment. They also hoped to increase Indian investment through the under-construction Ramgarh land port.
Although the government has designated this economic zone as a top-priority project, progress has been very slow. Over the past decade, despite promotion and government support, investment has remained low due to basic infrastructure problems—especially with gas, electricity, and water supply. Although Bangladesh is importing LNG to address gas shortages, the Chattogram region still faces a severe gas crisis.
Water supply is another major issue. Initially, a plan was to supply water through pipelines from the Halda River via Chattogram WASA. However, environmental groups strongly opposed the idea because Halda is the only natural breeding ground for freshwater fish in South Asia. As a result, the plan was dropped. Authorities then looked into drawing and treating water from the Muhuri Project and the Feni River, but that solution remains uncertain. This has made long-term investors hesitant, as a reliable water source is not guaranteed.
MA Jabbar, president of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Investors Association (BEZIA), said to Bonik Barta, “The project should have begun with a proper feasibility study. All investment infrastructure—starting with water—should have been ready. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Water is a big problem there. Electricity is also an issue. However, PGCB built a substation, which alone isn’t enough. Roads are needed, too, and security is another concern. For the Mirsharai Economic Zone to function properly, full support from the relevant government agencies is crucial.”
“Funding is a major challenge. BEZA doesn’t have a funding system. Whatever funds they had were used up just for land acquisition. If a proper feasibility study had been done, they would have had a clear idea about water needs. As far as I know, the scale of the Mirsharai project is being reduced according to BEZA’s updated plan,” he added.
According to the Forest Department, the Mirsharai to Feni stretch of the National Economic Zone covers around 136.8 square kilometers. This is also the narrowest part of Bangladesh, with the Bay of Bengal on one side and India on the other. Because of this unique geography, the coastal forest in the area plays a vital role in protecting both people and resources, as well as the mainland of Bangladesh. Forest officials warn that if these coastal forests are cleared, erosion from the sea could threaten key national infrastructure like the Dhaka-Chattogram highway and railway line, both of which are considered the country’s lifelines. That’s why they believe it’s essential to run the economic zone and preserve and restore coastal forests.
At the southwestern edge of the economic zone, about 4,104 acres of land is covered by dense forests. These include naturally grown and planted trees, such as gewa, keora, and hargoja, along with various types of shrubs. The forest is rich in biodiversity, providing a home for deer, foxes, fishing cats, different species of snakes, sea birds, water birds, and other animals. Due to the forest’s ecological importance, the forest department is now attempting to reclaim these unused lands to restore the area.
Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury, chief conservator of forests, sent a letter to the secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, requesting the return of the 4,104 acres that BEZA (Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority) had not used. In his most recent letter, dated December 22, 2024, he stated that returning the land promptly would help restore balance to the natural environment.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mollah Rejaul Karim, the forest conservator of the Chattogram region, submitted a proposal with eight suggestions to help protect the forests around the economic zone. His suggestions include preserving the trees already growing on the 4,104-acre area, planting jhau (tamarisk) trees along the western side as a wind barrier to replace those cut-down, planting trees along the canals within the zone, and turning empty factory spaces into green areas.
When contacted, Dr. Rejaul Karim told Bonik Barta, “A large portion of the forest land allocated for the economic zone is still unused. While industrial development is important for economic growth, we must protect our coastlines and forests. That’s why we’ve requested the return of the unused land in Mirsharai to start reforestation and work to protect the coastal belt between Mirsharai and Feni. We hope to begin this work very soon.”
According to BEZA, applications for land allocation in the Mirsharai Economic Zone began in April 2017. Later, on January 24, 2018, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina officially laid the foundation stone through a video conference. In 2019, BEZA handed over about 1,138.55 acres of land, where the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) developed 539 plots.
As of December 10, 2024, only 244 of those plots had been allocated to 41 companies. Just three companies—Kaixi Lingerie Bangladesh Ltd., KPST Shoes Bangladesh, and Fengqun—have started production, creating jobs for around 2,500 people. Three more companies—Minta Bangladesh, Good Wood Dhaka, and Yangchen BD—are getting ready to begin production soon.
This export processing area in the National Economic Zone is the largest among BEPZA’s nine zones. So far, BEPZA has invested about BDT 9.2313 billion in this zone. However, due to delays in starting work, BEPZA has canceled agreements with three companies: Kazi Farms, KB Petro Chemical, and H Candy.
Despite it being eight years since applications began, only three companies have actually started production. This has raised doubts about the ambitious plan to create jobs for 1.5 million people.
BEZA officials now admit that the original plan—to develop nearly 34,000 acres—was unrealistic, almost like trying to build 100 separate economic zones at once. The current caretaker government has moved away from that plan. The total area is now being scaled down. Earlier plans also included acquiring large areas of rice-growing land, but that approach has now changed. Unlike before, BEZA is no longer rushing to develop the entire zone simultaneously. Instead, the new plan is to move forward in smaller, well-thought-out steps.
Speaking to Bonik Barta, Saleh Ahmed, BEZA’s executive member and additional secretary, said, “So far, we have received about 17,000 acres in Mirsharai. Under the new plan, the zone will now be built on 21,000 acres. The earlier plan included acquiring some paddy fields near the old embankment in Ichakhali, but we’ve now decided not to acquire those lands.”
On the topic of environmental damage, BEZA official Saleh Ahmed said, “I don’t fully agree with the claim that wildlife is under serious threat. From what I’ve heard, there were a few jungle cats and squirrels, and some locals mentioned deer. But the idea that many animals are endangered or that mangroves have been heavily destroyed in Mirsharai isn’t entirely accurate. We’ve carried out reforestation in several areas on our initiative. We’ve also taken steps to manage waste. I believe we haven’t destroyed the forests or the environment—we’ve just made some changes, which I would call redevelopment.”
He added, “We are progressing with the development of the economic zone step by step, according to our updated plan. We already can provide the water and electricity needed for constructing buildings and facilities. We’re also preparing to meet the needs of factories once they go into full production. However, it will cost around BDT 2 to 2.5 trillion just to fill and prepare the 21,000 acres of land—which isn’t something we can do overnight. That’s why, in our most recent press conference, our executive chairman (Ashik Chowdhury) said that it will take at least three years to fully complete four core zones of the National Special Economic Zone (NSEZ).”
Since BEZA took over, many trees in forest land have been cleared to make way for multi-story buildings, factories, roads, and other infrastructure. When asked about the Forest Department’s request to return 4,104 acres of forest land, Saleh Ahmed responded, “Yes, we received a letter about it. But the claim of encroachment isn’t entirely accurate—the land is government-owned. Many development activities have already occurred there, including road construction and leasing plots. Now, whether to return this land to the Forest Department or continue using it for industrial purposes—that’s a decision for the government. If the government decides the land should be returned, it certainly can be.”
According to the Coastal Forest Department, BEZA took control of 22,335 acres of forest land in Mirsharai’s Saherkhali, Ichakhali, and Mughadia unions to build the National Special Economic Zone. These forests were home to various tree species such as gewa, bain, and keora, and a rich variety of wildlife including deer, foxes, fishing cats, slow lorises, mongooses, and snakes.
However, the heavy construction of infrastructure has destroyed most of the coastal forest. As a result, the wildlife population has decreased sharply, especially the deer. At one time, the Mirsharai coastal forest was home to over 10,000 deer, but now their number has dropped to nearly zero. As the forest shrinks, deer are often forced to move into nearby areas where many are killed or injured—hit by vehicles, caught in storm surges, or during cyclones. Some are also falling prey to hunters.
When asked about the situation, Abdul Gafur Molla, the coastal range officer of Mirsharai, told Bonik Barta, “The forest land given up for the National Special Economic Zone in Mirsharai had various tree species like keora, gewa, and bain. Deer were the most common wildlife. However, as the forest area has shrunk, deer and other animals have become endangered. The construction of infrastructure and the destruction of forestland have caused a dramatic decline in the number of deer and other wildlife.”
The Forest Department has also received field reports confirming that trees and vegetation remain on the 4,104 acres of land in the economic zone. Sheikh Abul Kalam Azad, assistant forest conservator of the Chattogram Coastal Forest Division, told Bonik Barta, “This forest in Mirsharai was once home to deer and many other animals. It was part of the local ecosystem. When there’s enough food, wild animals thrive. Now that the forest has been reduced, the number of deer has dropped too.”
He added, “We’ve already created 1,000 to 1,500 acres of new forest in Mirsharai and Sitakunda. If we can protect these forests properly, we can bring back a suitable habitat for the deer and restore their population.”