Despite its geographically important position, Satkhira district lags behind in industry and trade, and its commercial progress is much slower than that of neighbouring districts. For lack of infrastructure, industrialisation and long-term planning, its economy is stagnant despite great potential. Nasim Faruk Khan Mithu, president of the Satkhira Chamber of Commerce and Industry, recently spoke to Jago News about the district's potential, challenges and the way forward. He was interviewed by district correspondent Ahsanur Rahman Rajib.

Asked about the current state of business in Satkhira compared with neighbouring districts, Nasim Faruk Khan Mithu said that despite great geographical potential, Satkhira's trade has not reached the desired level, and its commercial progress is quite slow compared with neighbours such as Jashore, Khulna or Kushtia. The main reasons are weak infrastructure, a lack of new industries, a shortage of skilled manpower and the absence of long-term government planning. The district's trade is mainly limited to agriculture, fisheries and small-scale import and export, which cannot create large economic growth or jobs, he said.

On the main obstacles to developing Bhomra, one of the country's largest land ports, he said that although goods worth thousands of crores of taka are imported and exported through it every year, it has some basic gaps. The port lacks essential facilities such as full banking services, a custom house, an X-ray scanner and an EPI station. With management not modernised, traders suffer losses all the time. India's Ghojadanga port has everything from digital scanners to modern facilities, but Bhomra lags behind, reducing its competitiveness.

He said developing rail and waterways is essential for Satkhira's trade. With no rail link in the district, transport costs are very high. A rail connection with the neighbouring district would cut import and export costs and get perishable goods to their destinations quickly. About 700 km of waterways are almost unusable for lack of dredging and proper management; reviving them could revolutionise the transport of farm produce and heavy goods.

Asked why Satkhira's mango growers are denied fair prices and what the chamber proposes, he said that although Satkhira's mangoes have an international reputation, there is no cold storage or mango processing centre in the district. As a result a large quantity of mangoes is wasted every year and farmers do not get the right price. The chamber has called for government and private investment to set up a "mango processing centre" where mangoes could be stored and made into juice, mango powder and other products for sale. Farmers would benefit and a new industry would develop, he said.

On why large industries have not developed in Satkhira, he cited several challenges, chiefly the lack of a direct gas connection, an irregular power supply and a shortage of skilled technical manpower, which discourage large investors. The chamber is trying to set up an industrial zone for shrimp, agriculture, textiles and light engineering, he said.

On the district's traditional Sundarban Textile Mill, he said it was once a source of jobs for thousands of people but is now abandoned. The chamber has demanded that it be reopened through a public-private partnership (PPP), which would not only increase employment but also energise the district's economy.

Asked why Satkhira lags in tourism although a large part of the Sundarbans lies in the district, he said there is huge potential for tourism around the Sundarbans, but investors are not interested because of poor infrastructure, security and weak communications. If the government set up a planned tourism zone and gave incentives to private entrepreneurs, tourism could develop in Satkhira and play a big role in the local economy.

On why Satkhira's shrimp potential is not being fully used, he said that although plenty of shrimp is produced, exports are below expectations for lack of international-standard hatcheries, laboratories and processing plants. Farmers are often denied fair prices because of syndicates. The chamber has asked the government to set up an international-standard "fish processing zone" in Satkhira.

Asked whether the chamber has plans to help women and young entrepreneurs, he said it has proposed an "entrepreneur support desk" to help them with training, capital and market links, and also plans a separate marketing platform for women.

Asked for the chamber's specific demands to the government, he said the main ones are turning Bhomra into a full and modern land port, setting up an industrial zone, developing rail and waterways, ensuring gas connections and subsidising agro-processing industries. "We believe that with the combined efforts of government and the private sector, Satkhira will again be established as an economically important district," he said.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.