After the Nimtoli tragedy in 2010, there was talk to transfer chemical factories from old Dhaka to Keraniganj. Though work began back then, nothing concrete is visible as yet. Administration claims that this was not possible due to the opposition of the chemical traders.
In March 2017, two new projects were undertaken at a cost of nearly Tk 2.02 billion in Keraniganj’s Konda union.
But, the approval time took around eight years. Though the projects were approved at the ECNEC meet on Oct 30 last, land acquisition has not happened as yet.
The tenure of the projects is till June 2021. After the Feb 20 fire accident, in which 68 people have died, the authority has started to seriously look for land.
In the project, traders of flammable items will be allocated warehouses. BSCIC chairman, Moshtaq Hossain, says, “Work has already begun to develop a separate chemical zone and our people have selected a site.”
Deputy DG of BSCIC, Khondokar Aminuzzamn, said, “We have visited the area, it is empty and 5-7 km from the Babubazaar Bridge.”
Earth will be deposited and 936 plots created, he said.
Reportedly, of the 4000 chemical traders, only 936 will be given plots.
Khondokar Aminuzzaman said that work is also underway to construct an industrial city at a cost of Tk 1.33 billion.
After the Nimtali incident, the PM ordered the chemical warehouses to be removed and, an inter-ministerial committee submitted a recommendation on Jul 20 which stated that all factories can be moved to 17 seven storied buildings in Keraniganj.
Based on the recommendation, land was identified and project expenditure was set at Tk 14.18 billion with 400 square feet flats.
But the project faltered since the chemical owners opposed it.
President of the Chemical and Perfumery Merchant Association, Belayet Hossain, said, “We don’t want to say in old Dhaka, let the government make a chemical colony and if anyone refuses to move then legal action can be taken.”