Representational Image. -Freepik

DHAKA, April 30, 2025 (BSS) – The government has formed a national committee to establish a Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in the country, aligning with the growing global trend of trade liberalisation and investment facilitation.

The committee was formed on April 21 to look into the issues of establishing such FTZ within a year, said a press release.

Representatives from Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), Ministry of Commerce, Economic Relation Division (ERD), Ministry of Industries, National Board of Revenue (NBR), Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) were included in the committee.

The first meeting of the committee is scheduled to be held on May 6 with Executive Chairman of BIDA and BEZA Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun in the chair.

The committee is tasked with reviewing existing laws—such as the Bangladesh Economic Zones Act, the Customs Act and import-export regulations—and recommending necessary amendments or the formulation of new laws, rules and guidelines conducive to the establishment of FTZ.

Regarding Bangladesh’s FTZ plans, Ashik Chowdhury said the government has initiated the process of transforming Bangladesh into a global manufacturing hub and FTZ will play a pivotal role in that transformation.

With effective coordination from the national committee and proactive support from relevant ministries, it would be possible to declare an FTZ within the current year, he added.

As part of the Bangladesh Investment Summit held from April 7-10, a sensitisation seminar was held in collaboration with FTZ operator DP World.

During the session, DP World presented its global operations.

Chairman of DP World met the Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and expressed keen interest in investing in Bangladesh.