In 4 months, Arrears collected worth Tk. 3 crore & received investment proposal of Tk. 1.5k crore
Apart from 92 establishments across the country divided into four hi-tech parks including hardware, software, knowledge and IT training and incubation, 19 private organizations have been recognized as hi-tech parks. Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority has taken a strategic position to build Smart Bangladesh by 2037 through the sustainable use of these facilities. Instead of evaluating only the revenue income or how much money is returned, the government is giving utmost importance considering how many IT skilled population will be created from here and transformed into the wealth of the country.
And now, that huge responsibility is being carried out by an Additional Secretary who has championed half-a-dozen categories including execution of annual performance contracts, birth registration, shelter schemes during his tenure as Rajshahi divisional commissioner. There, he got to know about the Bangabandhu Hi-Tech Park, which was built within half a kilometer of his workplace. After that, in July of this year, he became the managing director of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority. The Notre Dameian, graduated from Dhaka University in Soil Science, passed 13th BCS and received NDC from Mirpur Cantonment. Now GSM Zafar Ullah has been appointed as the twelfth Managing Director of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority.
The twelfth Managing Director of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority has been able to show new surprises within just four months of assuming office. To overcome the impact of Covid19 pandemic, he has taken strategic steps to collect the outstanding revenue of the government including canceling the lease of idle institutions. In spite of receiving incentives, the leases of eight companies were canceled in four months due to violation of terms and conditions; arrears of 3 crore taka has been collected from the parks only collection of; in the first installment and the possibility of investment of 1500 crore taka from Hi-Tech City of Kaliakoire. He said that 25 percent of the 82 companies in Bangabandhu Hi-tech City of Kaliakor have already gained profit.
The Managing Director of Hi-Tech Park Authority GSM Zafar Ullah, a resident of Narayanganj shared these points in an exclusive interview with S. M. Imdadul Haq, Executive Editor of Digital Bangla Media. The Managing Director of Hi-Tech Park Authority said, I have been able to convince the entrepreneurs and investors from Kawranbazar and Jashore Software Park and Kaliakoir Hi-Tech Park that keeping arrears is not a sign of smartness. Those who are smart don’t keep dues unpaid. You will be annoyed if you are repeatedly knocked for dues. Your investment and production efficiency will be hampered. Through this negotiation, we have been able to collect three crore taka from Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City in the first installment from the arrears of three to four years ago with a four-month payment. Likewise, steps have been taken to ensure their benefits. 20-25 crores are still outstanding.
Reminiscing about his former workplace at the beginning of the talk, he said, Rajshahi Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hitech Park Cineplex, established on the banks of the Padma River, has become one of the centers of entertainment. People are gathering there in groups. Here is Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center and Joy Silicon Tower. Training goes on over there and so is a massive influx of young candidates as well. The place is now popular with the young generation. Smaller startups are also doing well there. I want to make all hi-tech parks functional. From here the youth will somehow contribute to create Smart Bangladesh.
In response to a question, Zafar Ullah said, 82 companies are now operating in seven blocks in the Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City of Kaliakoir, established on an area of about 370 acres. This is where Hyundai manufactures cars and sells SUVs for just Tk. 26 lakhs. Also mobiles, ATM cards and hi-tech electronics hardware are being manufactured there. After I took over, I was able to accommodate new investors from Saudi Arabia, France and Japan through a clean-up campaign. There are still infrastructure development works going on in several institutions. Further development of 97 acres of land is in progress to meet the demand. This is how we are trying to make this hi-tech park fully functional now. For this reason, we have arranged playgrounds, mosques and dormitories in some blocks. Elevated expressway is being built after rail to improve connectivity. All in all, Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City will be fully functional within the next 1-2 years.
While asked about how to make hi-tech parks popular in the future, the Managing Director of Hi-tech Park Authority, said that one Cineplex will be set up for the entertainment of both local and foreign investors in the Hi-Tech Parks. For this, there will be an agreement with Star Cineplex soon. For now, after Rajshahi, Cineplex is also going to be built in Kaliakoire. Hi-tech parks will become happy places for common people as well. This hi-tech park full of life will transform Bangladesh into a smart economy country by 2037. Then maybe you will see a smile of satisfaction on the face of the managing director in charge here.
When asked about the skilled or smart manpower to manage the increasing number of Hi-Tech Parks, he said that today 92 establishments are being built in Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park while the manpower is only 76. It is unbelievable. Although you can say that 16 establishments have been completed so far. There will be 16 more establishments in the next year. But within the next 5 years, all 92 establishments will be completed. Therefore, the initiative to increase manpower was done by my predecessor. At that time, the issue of increasing the number was finalized to add up 103 personnel from the Ministry of Finance to make it 179. But it was stuck for a long time like arrears. After my joining, I quickly brought the issue almost at the final stage of implementation. Now only the work of fixing the rules in public administration is going on. It may take a maximum of three months.
Still, he sees smart manpower, gaining confidence to receive foreign investment, providing one-stop services faster and building awareness among stakeholders as major challenges. During the conversation, GSM Zafar Ullah also indicated that Hi-Tech Park Authority will be managed with new initiative in public-private joint partnership. He said, the country will also benefit from this. We will also be less stressed. A win-win situation will be created. Both parties will fee involved.