Industrial plots allotted on political considerations under the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) during the previous government will have to be cancelled, said Adilur Rahman Khan, the industries adviser.

"Many plots remain vacant because they were given to individuals who were not genuine entrepreneurs. These allocations must go," he said while addressing the Annual Conference and Workshop 2025 today at the BSCIC in Dhaka.

Khan highlighted the role of small, cottage, and medium industries in advancing industrialisation.

"Our economic foundation doesn't lie in big corporate houses but in the millions of small entrepreneurs across rural and semi-urban areas," he said.

He said that small industries contribute around 25 percent to GDP and account for nearly 80 percent of employment in the industrial sector, stressing the need to prioritise their development.

Unlike other industrial bodies, the BSCIC has a deep grassroots presence, he said. However, he acknowledged persistent criticism from entrepreneurs over bureaucratic delays, limited access to financing, and inadequate services.

"We want to see a BSCIC that empowers grassroots entrepreneurs," he said, calling for reforms to simplify loan procedures, introduce collateral-free loans, and remove banking obstacles.

Khan also expressed concern over underutilised industrial estates, especially those outside Dhaka, many of which face gas and electricity shortages.

He called for eliminating bureaucratic red tape and transforming the BSCIC into an efficient, online one-stop service platform.

He urged district-level officials to promote youth entrepreneurship in line with the inclusive spirit of the July movement, helping young people become job creators instead of job seekers.