Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent
The Ishwardi Export Processing Zone (EPZ) at Pakshi in Pabna’s Ishwardi is playing an increasingly important role in industrialisation, employment generation and export diversification in the country’s north and western regions.
Besides ready-made garments, the EPZ produces tents and camping equipment, wigs, batteries, industrial gloves, bullet-proof jackets, chemicals, automobile parts, textiles, yarn and rubber products.
The diversification of production is one of the key factors behind the EPZ’s growth, with exports rising steadily in recent years.
In the 2025-26 fiscal year, Ishwardi EPZ exported goods worth US$289.32 million, up US$31.07 million, or more than 12 per cent, from US$258.25 million in 2024-25.
Among the country’s eight EPZs, Ishwardi EPZ ranks seventh in terms of total exports.
After more than two decades of operation, the EPZ has become an important contributor to the economic transformation of the north-western region. Its growing range of products is also helping diversify Bangladesh’s export basket.
The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), established in 1981, currently operates eight EPZs and the BEPZA Economic Zone. Ishwardi EPZ was established in 2001.
Construction of the EPZ began in 1996 on 308.97 acres of land on the bank of the Padma River at Pakshi. It was inaugurated on January 13, 2001, after which production and exports began.
All 324 plots have been allocated according to demand. At present, 27 factories are in operation, while nine are under implementation. Most of them are foreign-owned.
Of the operational enterprises, 11 are wholly foreign-owned. Investors include companies from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, Canada and the Marshall Islands.
The EPZ has its own electricity substation, while arrangements have also been made for water and gas supplies.
A total of 20,929 workers are employed at the EPZ, including 6,395 men and 14,534 women. There are also 85 foreign employees.
The EPZ has also generated substantial indirect employment, with various businesses and service providers developing in the surrounding areas. As the number of factories has increased, once-quiet villages around the EPZ have become increasingly busy and economically active.
Exports from the EPZ stood at US$217.75 million in 2023-2024, US$211.75 million in 2022-2023 and US$209.6 million in 2021-2022.
Ishwardi EPZ Manager ABM Shahidul Islam said the overall situation at the EPZ was good, with production and export trade continuing.
“If uninterrupted gas and electricity supplies can be maintained, local and foreign investment in Ishwardi EPZ will increase further,” he said.
He said three Chinese industrial enterprises had recently applied to establish textile factories at the EPZ and wanted to start operations very soon.
“If the three factories begin operations, several thousand more Bangladeshi workers will be employed,” he said.
He also said the reopening of Ishwardi Airport would encourage more factories to be established at the EPZ and could increase investment several-fold.
BEPZA Executive Director of the Public Relations Department A. K. M. Anwar Parvez said Ishwardi EPZ was playing an important role in industrialisation and employment generation in the country’s north and western regions.
“A wide range of products are manufactured at this EPZ. Besides conventional ready-made garments, products such as tents, wigs, batteries and industrial gloves are also produced here,” he said.
He said the EPZ’s export earnings had been increasing every year and were 12 per cent higher in 2025-26 than in the previous fiscal year.
The country’s first LEED Platinum-certified green factory, Vintage Denim Studio, is located at Ishwardi EPZ.
“An environmentally friendly industrial zone, improved connectivity, a skilled workforce and a safe working environment have created favourable conditions for investors here,” he said.
“If everything continues normally, Ishwardi EPZ will make an even greater contribution to the country’s economy in the future,” he added. #EK
