"We submitted the PCP (project concept paper) to the Planning Commission on April 22 and it was included in the ADP," said Matiur Rahman, deputy general manager of Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC).

"We are waiting for approval for project money to get land from the jute ministry," Rahman said.

The BSCIC looks set to start the work of Adamjee Industrial Park by July 1 with the 2006 deadline for completion. The PCP was earlier slated for 2003-5, but the project period was revised to 2004-6 as the machinery of the now-closed Adamjee Jute Mills was not relocated.

BSCIC officials fear the project might be delayed further if money does not come before July 1 and if the jute ministry takes more time to shift the machinery from the mills premises.

The BSCIC estimated the project cost at Tk 616.50 crore: Tk 525.09 crore will be spent on land and Tk 91.41 crore on maintenance, construction and utility.

The officials say the BSCIC can afford to provide Tk 414 crore of the total fund. "The government is subsidising Tk 202.50 crore," Rahman said.

Adamjee Industrial Park will be located on 294.88 acres. The prices of land were reduced to Tk 60 lakh from Tk 89 lakh a bigha earlier fixed by the jute ministry.

Under the project, 198 acres will be distributed among interested garments and textiles companies: 77.5 acres are allocated for readymade garments (RMG) factories, 81 acres for weaving industries and 39.5 acres for dyeing and printing factories.

There will be 1,530 factories on 455 plots: 1,428 RMG factories will be set up on 332 plots, 81 weaving factories on 81 and 21 dyeing and printing factories on 42.

"The RMG factories will provide 8.5 lakh job opportunities, and weaving and dyeing will provide more than 24,000 and 25,000," the DGM said.

A common effluent treatment plant will be set up on 5 acres to protect the Shitalakhya river from pollution, with industrialists bearing the cost of establishment and maintenance.

"A container yard on 25 acres will be allotted to businesspeople. A three-star hotel will be within the compound of the park on two acres as well," Rahman said.

Other areas of 66.88 acres will be used for an administrative building, a fire-brigade office, a police outpost, an electric grid line, an internal road and drainage.

The BSCIC will also keep the pond, playground, high school on Adamjee campus for the employees' children.

"We hope to start the work of the project by July, but it depends on how quickly the machinery is relocated from Adamjee Jute Mills. It needs rigorous negotiations from the jute ministry," said BSCIC Chairman Md Solaiman Khan.