ESIA STUDY OF THE BANGLADESH SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE
(CETP AND CWTP) AT ARAIHAZAR, NARAYANGANJ
Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA)
Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), People’s Republic of Bangladesh
P a g e | 93
4 DESCRIPTION OF ENVIRONMENT
Project Location
The proposed Japanese Economic Zone (JEZ) site is located at Sonapara village, Mouza: Panchrukhi
& Panchgaon, Union: Satgram & Duptara, under Araihazar Upazila which is adjacent to the Dhaka–
Sylhet highway. The total land of Japanese Economic Zone (JEZ) is approximately 217.57 ha or 537.63
acres for 1st phase. The project site is near to Dhaka-Sylhet Highway in the north-west direction,
Shitalakhya River in west direction and Meghna River is in southeast direction. A canal pass through
the proposed project boundary and a branch of Meghna River named Brahmaputra River pass through
south direction to northwestern direction.
The project area mainly covers agricultural low land, and this location is suitable to access not only for
roadway but also river way. The study area considered major settings of roads, river, airport, railway
and port. The project activity areas are considered as core area and remaining study area as buffer
zone. The project site is well connected with Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Airport access: 30.2
km from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (Dhaka), 265 km from Shah Amanat International Airport
(Chittagong) & 221 km from Osmani International Airport (Sylhet), Seaport access: 258 km from
Chittagong Sea Port, 248 km from Mongla Sea Port & 314 km from Payra Sea Port, Road access:
Adjacent Dhaka-Sylhet Highway, River access: 31.5 km from Narayanganj River Port & 115 km from
Chandpur River Port, Railway station: 30.3 km from Kamalapur Railway Station, Dhaka. Environment
setting around JEZ site and surroundings of access road are given in Table 4-1 and Araihazar Upazila
map showing location of the proposed project site in Figure 4-1 . The project surrounding within 10 km
region is shown in Figure 4-2 below.
Table 4-1 Environmental Setting of the project
Particulars Details
Location Site is located at Union: Satgram & Duptara, Upazila: Araihajar, District: Narayanganj
Mouza Panchrukhi& Panchgaon
Nearby Villages West- Banti, Kumartek
North- Kandail, Prabashi palli
South-Manehor
East- Tekpara, Noagaon
Project Area Existing area approximately 198.7ha or 540.77 acres
Road Access Adjacent Dhaka-Sylhet Highway
River Access Approx. 1.5 km from Brahmaputra River
Approx. 5.5 km from Shitalakhya River
Approx. 9 km from Meghna River
Nearest Airport 30.2 km from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (Dhaka),
265 km from Shah Amanat International Airport (Chittagong)
221 km from Osmani International Airport (Sylhet)
Nearest Railway Station 30.3 km from Kamalapur Railway Station, Dhaka
Nearest Sea and River Port 258 km from Chittagong Sea Port,
248 km from Mongla Sea Port,
314 km from Payra Sea Port
31.5 km from Narayanganj River Port &
115 km from Chadpur River Port
Climatic conditions Avg. Monthly wind speed – 2-5 m/s;
ESIA STUDY OF THE BANGLADESH SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE
(CETP AND CWTP) AT ARAIHAZAR, NARAYANGANJ
Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA)
Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), People’s Republic of Bangladesh
P a g e | 94
Particulars Details
Avg. Monthly Min. Temp. – 19.0°C January 1991;
Avg. Monthly Max. Temp. – 40.2°C in April 2014;
Annual Avg. Rainfall – 1994.6 mm;
Average maximum humidity ranges – 94% to 97%;
Average minimum average ranges – 31% to 64%;
Seismic Zone Zone II
Forests / National Parks None within 10 km
Archaeologically important
places/monuments
No Archaeologically important places/monuments near to the site
Figure 4 - 1 Project location at Araihazar upazila of Narayanganj
Source: Based on Banglapedia