Dhaka: The Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) is planning extensive reforms and modernization initiatives to revive its activities and strengthen its role in promoting industrialization across the country.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, BSCIC Chairman Benzir Ahmed outlined a comprehensive plan to improve infrastructure in industrial estates, revive closed and sick factories, allocate unused industrial plots, and attract new investment. "BSCIC wants to return to its core objectives, including creating new entrepreneurs, providing loans and training, and developing industrial estates," he said.
The chairman mentioned that since assuming office, he has visited several industrial estates to identify their existing problems and potential. BSCIC, established in 1957 as the East Pakistan Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (EPSIC), aims to spread industrialization beyond Dhaka and create opportunities for small and cottage industries at the grassroots level. Benzir Ahmed noted that the organization is moving forward with a major reform and modernization plan to overcome its longstanding challenges.
Priority is being given to improving infrastructure and security in BSCIC's 84 industrial estates and parks, reopening closed and sick factories, quickly allocating unused industrial plots, and attracting fresh investment. The chairman described the condition of older industrial estates, highlighting that many were built decades ago when the movement of heavy trucks and lorries was limited. Roads originally designed for light vehicles are now being damaged by heavy vehicles used to transport raw materials and finished products, and drainage systems are inadequate in many estates.
Security has emerged as another important concern. Boundary walls in many old industrial estates are weak, some security gates are damaged, and several areas lack adequate lighting and CCTV surveillance. "We are taking an integrated plan to ensure the security of entrepreneurs and improve the overall environment of the industrial estates," Benzir Ahmed said.
Currently, 6,223 industrial establishments are operating under BSCIC, although some have become sick and others have completely stopped operations. The authorities are preparing a specific list of closed and sick factories and will identify the reasons behind their closure and the types of support required to bring them back into operation. Under a special 180-day program, 43 closed mills and factories have already been brought back into production.
Emphasis has been placed on preventing further factory closures. Regarding unused industrial plots, many have remained unallocated or unused for years. "More than 1,600 plots have already been advertised afresh for allocation. We want to complete the process quickly so that entrepreneurs can establish industries on these plots," he said.
Highlighting BSCIC's contribution to the national economy, the chairman said that over 6,000 industrial establishments under the corporation constitute one of the major foundations of the country's small and cottage industries sector. These enterprises have created direct and indirect employment opportunities for around 600,000 to 700,000 people. BSCIC is also conducting training programs to create new entrepreneurs and skilled workers.
Benzir Ahmed expressed his vision for BSCIC to be viewed not just as an institution that allocates industrial plots but as a comprehensive industrial support institution for grassroots entrepreneurs. "For this, roads, drainage, security, electricity, and other infrastructure in industrial estates need to be modernized, while closed industries need to be revived, new investment attracted, and entrepreneurs' skills enhanced," he added.
The chairman emphasized that making industrial estates safe, modern, and entrepreneur-friendly would increase investors' confidence. Resuming operations in closed factories will increase production, establishing new industries will create employment, and the flow of money into local economies will rise. He concluded that these initiatives would ultimately strengthen the rural economy and enhance the country's overall industrial and export capacity. If the planned modernization, revival of closed industries, and attraction of new investment can be implemented in an integrated manner, the grassroots industrialization process could regain momentum and contribute more strongly to Bangladesh's economic development.