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Battery industry leaders demanded a special industrial zone for battery manufacturing and recycling in order to promote a parallel market for local entrepreneurs.
Battery manufacturers and exporters' association leaders made the demand during a meeting with Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun at the latter's office in the city on Monday.
The association leaders said that most local factory owners have been operating environment-friendly industries in the country.
But they alleged that some foreign factories (China) run their units in Bangladesh illegally and an unplanned way which are creating unequal competition for local entrepreneurs.
They demanded immediate actions against the foreign factories operating in Bangladesh illegally to create a healthy business environment.
Bangladesh Accumulator & Battery Manufacturers' Association President Munawar Misbah Moin and General Secretary M. Shahjahan Kabir addressed the meeting, among other leaders where officials of the industries ministry were also present.
Possibilities and challenges of the sector was also discusses at the meeting.
Currently there are 24 local battery factories in the country and after meeting domestic demand, the factories are exporting their products to about 69 countries, the association leaders said.
They noted that the industry is making a steady progress for several years.
The sector earns US $60 million by exporting the goods every year, they mentioned.
They stressed the need for a creating certain policy for development of the sector to ensure that the progresses they have made for years will continue smoothly in the future.
Assuring the businesses leaders, the industries minister said that the government will extend necessary support to the sector to establish environment-friendly factories. He said the sector is enjoying a 15-per cent cash incentive.
Besides, concerned authorities of the government are deploying mobile court against illegal battery businesses and conducting drives against unauthorised factories.
The minister urged the association leaders to submit specific proposals to the government over their demand to set up special industrial zone.
He said that the government will cordially consider their demands.