As the sun rises, Siddhirganj in Narayanganj springs into activity. Workers stream in from across the city toward the Adamjee Export Processing Zone (AEPZ). Some carry lunch boxes, others bags. The area once home to Adamjee Jute Mill now buzzes with the energy of roughly 80,000 workers, men and women combined.
They work across 47 industrial enterprises within the EPZ. Built on the former jute mill’s abandoned land, the EPZ has become one of the country’s largest export and employment hubs. The skilled hands of these workers produce safety jackets, blazers, and bridal gowns for newlyweds across Europe in these factories.
Beyond that, the zone produces garment accessories, safety shoes, textiles, electronics and electrical products, OPC drums for laser printers and photocopiers, and car seat covers — new product lines through which the zone is generating billions of dollars in exports.
It isn’t just export earnings — the living standards of workers here are changing too. A recent on-site visit found a range of activity across the Adamjee EPZ.
Farzana Akter came to work at the EPZ from Brahmanbaria. This young woman’s monthly salary now stands at 19,000 taka, up from an initial salary of 8,200 taka. Living in Kadamtali, she sends 4,000 taka a month to her parents. She said the good working environment has kept her at the same company for seven years.
Ten more enterprises are set to begin production. According to the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), the total number of workers will surpass 100,000 once these enterprises, expected to launch production this year, come online.
Adamjee EPZ Executive Director Md Abdur Rahman Bhuiyan said: “Investors have shown enormous interest because we’ve ensured uninterrupted supply of gas, electricity, and water. Factories producing various products, including bicycles, are being established.”
Billion-dollar exports
According to Adamjee EPZ sources, the zone was established on 292 acres of riverside land, containing 276 industrial plots. Since its founding in 2006, total investment has reached $847 million, while exports have totaled $11 billion.
Adamjee EPZ is home to the country’s only bridal wear manufacturing factory. Clothing for brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, and Van Heusen is produced in this EPZ. Exports from Adamjee EPZ reached $1.18 billion in fiscal year 2025-26. The previous fiscal year’s exports also surpassed a billion dollars.
Which countries are investing
Of the 47 enterprises here, 26 are foreign-invested companies. Nine enterprises involve joint domestic-foreign investment, while 12 are domestically invested.
Among foreign investors are one company from Canada, nine from China-Hong Kong, one from Germany, two from South Korea, and five from India. Additionally, five companies each from the United States and Japan have invested. There is one factory each from Malaysia, the Netherlands, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, and Ukraine.
Many new enterprises want to invest in this EPZ. Ukraine’s Super Protective Shoe Company manufactures safety footwear here, used by construction, chemical, and mining workers. The company employs more than 1,000 workers.
The company’s general manager, Md Aslam Uddin, said: “We’re looking for space for new investment. We plan to invest $10 million. If it’s not available here, we may have to secure land elsewhere.”
Alongside the improved working environment here, many enterprises also provide daycare centers for workers’ children.
Japanese company TS Tech manufactures car seat covers. Around 400 workers are employed at the company. A visit to the facility found a daycare center set up for 19 children, staffed by four trained female workers.
The company’s manager, Md Mahbubur Rahman, said: “Milk is provided to workers from the time they become pregnant. They’re given chairs at all times to support their work. They’re also marked with a separate green ribbon on their heads so they can easily be identified for assistance.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report