Mir Afroz Zaman

Bangladesh's economic relations with Bhutan have become stronger. After visiting the economic zone in Kurigram, the king of Bhutan said this to the journalists Jigme Khesar Namgel Wangchuck. King Jigme Khesar Namgel Wangchuck of Bhutan visited the designated area for Bhutanese Special Economic Zone in Madhavaram area of Bhogdanga Union on the east side of Kurigram Dharla Bridge.

He visited on Thursday (March 28) afternoon with a 14-member entourage. Later he left Bangladesh for Bhutan by road through Sonahat land port of Bhurungamari upazila of the district. Earlier, the King of Bhutan landed at Syedpur Airport this morning with his entourage. Later reached Kurigram Circuit House at 12:15 pm by road. After lunch there, he visited the designated place of the economic zone at 1:30 p.m.

At this time, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad A. Arafat, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Member of Parliament Dr. Hamidul Haque Khandkar, Member of Parliament Biplab Hasan Palash, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) Sheikh Yusuf Harun, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saidul Arif and Superintendent of Police Al Asad. Mahfuzul Islam was present.

Meanwhile, the visit of the King of Bhutan to Kurigram is seen as positive by the locals and businessmen. Pappu Miyaji of Dharla Par told Dhaka Post that we do not have any employment system in Kurigram. If you want to work, you have to go to Dhaka, Comilla and Chittagong. Now if there is job opportunity here then hundreds of people will get job opportunity. Besides, the poverty of the residents here will be reduced a lot.

Incidentally, this special economic zone will be built on 219 acres of land on the east bank of Dharla river on JTUJ basis. In 2015, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced the establishment of an economic zone in the district in a public meeting at the Kurigram Government College grounds. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the governments of Bangladesh and Bhutan to establish a Bhutanese Special Economic Zone at Kurigram in Dhaka on Monday (March 25) during the King of Bhutan's visit to Bangladesh.

It was informed from the Prime Minister's office that 219.64 acres of land has been allocated in Sadar Upazila of Kurigram district in the interest of the King of Bhutan.