If steps are done to secure proper domestic use and exports of the massive undeveloped mineral resources—whose approximate value is estimated to be more than US$2.26 trillion—Bangladesh can gain greatly.
According to the Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB), if sufficient efforts are made to explore and exploit the resources, which are primarily stored in the 16 districts of the country, they can be a significant source of foreign exchange profits in addition to guaranteeing domestic energy security.
Coal, peat, hard rock, common stone or sand mixed stone, silica sand, plain soil, mineral sand, limestone, metallic minerals, and iron ore are among the ten categories of mineral resources found in the country’s i6 districts, according to the GSB research.
“The estimated roughly value of country’s naturally stored mineral resources is more than US$2.26 trillion, equivalent to Tk 241.97 trillion,” says the GSB, country’s lone public entity working on exploring and extracting the natural resources.
“Initiatives are very minimal to explore and extract the valuable mineral resources mainly sands in the offshore area and in the rivers including coastal areas of Cox’s Bazar, Jamuna River and Brahmaputra River,” said Bureau of Mineral Development (BMD) Assistant Director Md. Mahfuzur Rahman.
