Site Assessment for the Establishment of a Special Economic Zone in Hatiya, Char Jobbar, and Char Shuborno, Noakhali District

The assignment involved conducting a comprehensive site assessment to evaluate the suitability of establishing a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Hatiya, Char Jobbar, and Char Shuborno in Noakhali District, south-eastern Bangladesh. The Government of Bangladesh was considering the development of the proposed economic zone under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement. In response to the Government’s request, the IFC–Bangladesh Investment Climate Fund (BICF) engaged Young Consultants (YC) to undertake a detailed evaluation of the proposed sites. The assessment examined the physical characteristics, infrastructure availability, environmental and social conditions, surrounding land uses, and potential development constraints of the identified locations. The findings were intended to provide essential information for determining the scope, parameters, and requirements of the pre-feasibility study for the proposed SEZ.

Scope of Services Provided
The assignment covered an integrated assessment of the proposed sites and their surrounding areas, focusing on physical suitability, regional accessibility, infrastructure availability, environmental and social considerations, and potential development constraints. The principal services provided included:

Background Information Review and Preliminary Site Assessment: Reviewed available background information and conducted site visits to examine the location, size, area, surrounding context, on-site and off-site infrastructure, and existing environmental and social conditions of the proposed sites. Identified potential fatal flaws, including constraints that could render a site unsuitable for development or require technically impractical or financially prohibitive mitigation measures.

Surrounding Area and Regional Accessibility Assessment: Examined the neighbourhoods and surrounding areas of the proposed sites to identify geographical, infrastructural, environmental, and social characteristics relevant to economic zone development. Identified nearby urban and rural communities and their distances from the sites, as well as the locations and distances of nearby hospitals and schools. Assessed connectivity to key regional infrastructure, including airports, railway facilities, seaports, and national highways. Evaluated adjacent residential and other land uses that could be adversely affected by large-scale economic zone development, identified surrounding environmental and social concerns, and assessed potential constraints that could affect site suitability.

Physical, Geographical, and Land-Use Assessment: Evaluated the physical and geographical characteristics of the proposed sites, including landscape features such as rolling hills, floodplains, water bodies, trees, and rivers; general soil types, without conducting soil testing; earthquake-zone considerations; and climatic conditions, including rainfall and monsoon patterns. Examined the type and density of vegetation, existing land-use categories such as commercial, residential, recreational, and industrial uses, and the presence of industrial activities or agricultural practices. Documented existing infrastructure and structures, including bridges, dams, retaining walls, houses, mosques, historical structures, and graveyards. Identified illegal settlements and other potential physical constraints or fatal flaws that could affect the development of the proposed SEZ.

Environmental Assessment: Assessed the environmental conditions and potential risks associated with the proposed sites. The assessment covered the frequency and extent of erosion and flooding, earthquake occurrence and magnitude, and the presence and location of rivers and lakes, including their potential implications for site development. Examined the potential need for land filling and the required elevation of land raising, where applicable, and identified wetlands and protected areas within the sites and their surrounding 10-kilometre radius. Investigated existing sources and types of pollution, the availability and sources of clean water, potential alternative water supply sources, and possible contamination of the sites and surrounding lands. Assessed whether contamination could be mitigated and examined the availability of wastewater discharge and treatment facilities, nearby solid waste disposal facilities, and other environmental constraints. Identified potential fatal environmental flaws that could influence the suitability of the proposed sites.

Social Assessment: Conducted a preliminary assessment of the social characteristics of the proposed sites and surrounding communities. Examined urban and rural population sizes, existing housing types and construction materials, available community facilities and services such as schools, hospitals, shops, and mosques, and the principal livelihoods of local inhabitants, including fishing, farming, cattle grazing, and small businesses. Evaluated potential impacts of economic zone development on women and their livelihoods, considered whether resettlement might be required and the approximate number of people potentially affected, and identified significant social constraints and potential fatal flaws relevant to site development.

Government Consultation and Information Gathering: Met with relevant government officials to gather information, discuss site-related considerations, and support the evaluation of the proposed economic zone locations. These consultations contributed to the broader assessment of the sites and the information required for subsequent pre-feasibility planning.

Reporting and Documentation: Consolidated the findings of the background review, site visits, surrounding-area analysis, physical and geographical assessment, environmental investigation, social assessment, and infrastructure review. Prepared and submitted the Final Site Assessment Report documenting the characteristics of the proposed sites, development opportunities, infrastructure considerations, environmental and social constraints, and potential fatal flaws. The report provided an evidence base for defining the parameters and requirements of the proposed SEZ pre-feasibility study.

Key Deliverable
A comprehensive Final Site Assessment Report covering the proposed Special Economic Zone locations in Hatiya, Char Jobbar, and Char Shuborno in Noakhali District. The report documented the physical and geographical characteristics, surrounding land uses, infrastructure availability, environmental and social conditions, and potential development constraints of the sites. The findings supported the identification of site-related risks and development requirements and informed the determination of the scope and parameters for the pre-feasibility study of the proposed SEZ under a public-private partnership arrangement.

Assignment Details
Client: IFC – Bangladesh Investment Climate Fund (BICF)

Project Context: Proposed Special Economic Zone development under a public-private partnership arrangement initiated by the Government of Bangladesh

Project Location: Hatiya, Char Jobbar, and Char Shuborno, Noakhali District, Bangladesh

Client Address: Gulshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Contract Value: Not specified in the provided assignment information

Duration: 6 months (December 2008–May 2009)

Total Staff-Months: 6 staff-months

Professional Staff-Months Provided by Associated Consultants: 2 staff-months

Associated Consultants: Not specified in the provided assignment information

Senior Professional Staff and Roles:

Mr. M. Zakir Hossain – Project Manager
Dr. Mustafa M. Kamal – Environmental Expert
Dr. Akhter Hossain Chaudhury – Site Assessment Expert
Mr. Pradip S. Chowdhury – Social Expert
Mr. Alamgir Kabir Dewan – GIS Expert
A. K. M. Faisal – Junior Feasibility Expert
S. M. Firoz Hasan – Coordinator