Bangladesh Drafts Policy to Revive Idle State Industrial Lands
The Invest Bangladesh authority has drafted a new policy to bring unused land and facilities of ailing state-owned enterprises under fresh investment. Stakeholders have been invited to submit their feedback on the draft guidelines by September 17.
The newly formed Invest Bangladesh authority has formulated a comprehensive draft policy aimed at bringing the unused land and physical infrastructure of ailing or defunct state-owned industrial and commercial enterprises under fresh investment frameworks. According to an official notification released on Thursday, the authority has formally sought feedback and recommendations from relevant stakeholders regarding the newly proposed guidelines to revitalize unproductive state assets.
Interested parties and concerned citizens have been given a specific timeframe to review the document, with the final deadline for submitting opinions and feedback set for September 17. This latest stakeholder consultation follows a series of preparatory discussions and calls for opinion that previously took place on July 12 and August 18, reflecting an ongoing effort to ensure a transparent and inclusive policymaking process.
To streamline the asset transfer procedure, the newly drafted policy proposes five integrated and sequential stages. These mandated steps encompass the initial identification of properties, thorough preparation, formal invitation of tenders, final contract execution, and ongoing monitoring to guarantee accountability and effective implementation throughout the entire lifecycle of the investment projects.
In a move designed to encourage proactive participation from the private sector, the draft policy includes a specific incentive for investors. Specifically, if a prospective investor comes forward with their own voluntary investment proposal, they will be awarded an additional bonus score of 7 percent when evaluated during subsequent open competitive tenders.
The financial mechanism outlined in the guidelines dictates how the proceeds generated from the sale or transfer of these state industrial assets will be managed. Funds collected through these transactions will be utilized primarily to clear all outstanding wage arrears and pension obligations owed to workers, while any remaining financial surplus will be deposited directly into the government treasury.
The policy initiative is being spearheaded by Invest Bangladesh, an entity that officially commenced its operational journey on August 23 following the merger of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida), the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza), and the Public-Private Partnership Authority (PPPA). Operating directly under the administrative jurisdiction of the Prime Minister's Office, the newly unified authority is positioned to oversee major structural reforms in industrial investment and state asset management across the country.
