Azadul Islam, Noakhali
Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) was set up in Sonapur, Noakhali in 2003 with the aim of creating new entrepreneurs, increasing production and eliminating unemployment. The industrial city was inaugurated on September 5, 2006 after the construction of the float. But even in the last decade and a half, an industrial friendly environment has not been created in this industrial city. As a result, BSCIC in the district of Noakhali is now an industrial city in name only. There are also allegations that the industrial area, which has been deserted all day, is occupied by various drug addicts from afternoon till night. This huge industrial area has been plagued by burglary, with more than one burglary at three establishments in December, January and early February. Entrepreneurs have become embroiled in a series of thefts in the wake of the BSCIC's various problems, the business recession during Covid-19 pandemic. It is the expectation of the people that BSCIC will play a role in eradicating unemployment through the development of planned industrialization through the concerned authorities.
After talking to the employees of different organizations of BSCIC Noakhali, it is learned that as the days go by, BSCIC is getting plagued with various problems. Factories / establishments are constantly being closed due to various problems. The allotted plots have been lying vacant year after year due to gas, water crisis, theft and insecurity. At present, there are only a handful of factories in operation. However, the production of these factories is not regular. The owners of the companies have become frustrated due to various crises. Although the infrastructure of this BSCIC has been developed, most of the plots are abandoned, empty, drainage system is flooded during the delicate rainy season, where the environment of BSCIC is ruined due to the fall of garbage, every road inside is broken. In some plots, only installations are made in the name of industry but there is no production. Locks are hanging in some institutions, owners have closed the institutions without paying the expenses. They allege that small scale industries are not developing here due to lack of proper supervision of the concerned authorities.
It is learned that out of 106 plots in BSCIC, 72 plots were allotted for setting up factories. But even after receiving the allotment, most of the plots were empty. Chemical, rubber, pharmaceuticals, workshops, flour, rice mills, plastics, buttons and about 40 small and large enterprises were formed in Noakhali BSCIC. But some people occupied those plots by installing some poles, some or a little wall in it and some people occupied those by building tin houses which has fallen year after year. The allotment was canceled after the remaining plots were applied to the Land Allocation Committee for cancellation of allotment. Later, the persons allotted earlier filed a case in the court. At present there are 10 plots in semi-constructed condition due to lawsuit. Cases of 8 plots have already been settled. It has been informed that the case of the half-built plots will be resolved in a short time and it will be re-allocated through the land allotment committee after rescuing it through the executive magistrate.
An official at the rubber factory said there was no electric light on the road in front of their company. As a result, from the evening onwards, except for the lights inside the organization, the rest is dark. There have been three thefts in the last two and a half months. The thieves stole valuables from the factory, including three valuable machines, four water peas, a deal machine and several iron plates. The power cable coming to the factory from the main electricity pole has been cut several times. More than once, they hired people to guard the institution, but they left after working for a few days for fear of some local hooligans and thieves, citing security reasons. This problem is constantly increasing as Noakhali BSCIC has no security. He also said that the problem would have been solved if the authorities had intensified police patrols in the BSCIC area.
Several officials from different organizations complained that the theft had been reported to the BSCIC office more than once. When informed about the security to prevent theft of the organization, the BSCIC authorities said that the issue of security is not their concern. However, the BSCIC office is taking security fee from every factory running every month. The industrial city has also become a safe haven for some local miscreants. Entrepreneurs cannot stay here in factories for fear of their harassment and extortion.
Entrepreneurs say the industrial city has not been completed due to gas, water crisis and mismanagement of authorities. They are constantly being robbed and there is insecurity. At present Noakhali BSCIC has about 5 productive companies. Apart from this, some grill workshops and rice mills are also running. They think that this industrial city can play a great role in the economy of the country if it takes initiative to create entrepreneurs by overcoming other crises including gas.
Haji Plastic Director Shahidul Alam said that the biggest crisis in BSCIC at present is gas. If enough gas is available, big industrial establishments will be formed here. The sooner gas is available, the sooner BSCIC will improve. We have no agro-industrial establishment here. For the amount of vegetables produced in the southern part of our district, it is necessary to set up a large cold store here. He hoped that with the establishment of cold storage, the industrial city would play a major role in preserving agricultural products.
Noakhali Industrial City Deputy General Manager (DGM) Mahabub Ullah acknowledged some of the crises, including gas, and promised a speedy solution. The connection has been given in writing to Bakhrabad to increase the gas pressure (profession) with a 6-inch pipe. The gas problem will be solved in a short time.
He further added that it is not true that BSCIC was not completed due to the crisis alone. Industrial establishments are not being set up here as the entrepreneurs have not started allotment of plots on time. From 2011 to 2021, due to the ongoing lawsuits in the courts of various plot owners, the institutions were not formed. The verdicts of 6 cases have already come in our favor through the cases. The rescued plots of new entrepreneurs will be allotted.
