Reserves of valuable minerals including Monazite, Zircon, Rutile, Calcium Carbonate, Phosphorus, Sulphate and Rare earth elements have been found in an area of around 3,100 Square Km at the bottom of the Bay of Bengal. In addition, a potential 100 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserve has been found at the bottom of the ocean, with which it is possible to meet the demand of Natural Gas in Bangladesh for the next 100 years.
At present, Reserve of Natural Gas in Bangladesh
will be able to serve the country for next 14 years only. Researchers of our
country think that in order to develop the Blue
Economy of Bangladesh through efficient use of marine resources and the
invented technology should be used at the field level. Natural gas in
Bangladesh is one of the main resources for the overall development of the
country.
This information was given recently by the speakers and researchers at a seminar titled 'Efficient Use and Challenges of Marine Resources for the Development of Blue Economy' organized at the auditorium of Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (BORI) at Pechar Dwip, Cox's Bazar. Cox's Bazar Marine Fisheries and Technology Center Chief Scientific Officer Mr. Shafiqur Rahman presented the keynote address at the seminar.
Shafiqur Rahman said, ‘Bangladesh has the exclusive marine economic zone up to about 200 nautical miles in the sea, but on an average we are able to use only 30 nautical miles. In addition, commercial trawlers are not allowed to fish at depths below 40 meters, but they do not comply. Due to lack of fishing experience in the deep sea level, the fishermen of our country are fishing near the coastline. However, some fishermen are being brought from Sri Lanka for training purposes so that our fishermen can also bring fish from the deep sea.
Dr. Shafiq said, ‘Lots of Artemia are
imported from abroad every year for use as pony food in hatcheries. But three
decades ago, scientists of our country have successfully invented the
technology to produce Artemia. Scientists of Bangladesh have invented many
technologies in the past for the economic development for the people of this
country. But that technology was not used at the field level. In order to
develop Blue Economy of Bangladesh, it is not only necessary to innovate the
technology, it is also necessary to use that technology at the practical level'.
A total of seven articles including
research results of Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute for the
financial year 2019-20 were presented in the seminar. At the seminar, Mohammad
Zakaria, Senior Scientific Officer, Department of Geological Oceanography,
Marine Research Institute, presented the results of a geological survey of rare
mineral resources at the bottom of the Bay of Bengal. Valuable minerals
including monazite, zircon, rutile, calcium carbonate, phosphorus, sulphate and
rare earth elements have been found in an area of 3,100 sq km at the bottom
of the Bay of Bengal. In addition, a potential 100 trillion cubic feet of natural
gas reserve for Bangladesh has been found at the bottom of the ocean, with
which we will be able to meet our next 100 years of natural gas demand. At
present, natural gas in Bangladesh has only 14 years of reserves.
During the seminar, Mr. Tariqul Islam, Scientific Officer, Department of Chemical Oceanography, Mr. Rupak Lodh and Mr. Shahinur Rahman, Scientific Officer, Department of Physical and Space Oceanography, Scientific Officer, Department of Environmental and Climate Research, Department of Oceanography Officers Mir Kashem and Sultan Al Nahyan and Tania Islam, Scientific Officer at the Oceanography Data Center, presented research papers on the potential of depleted food stocks.
Iti Rani Poddar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, was the chief guest at the seminar, which was chaired by Mr. Shafiqur Rahman, Director General, Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute. In addition, the director of the Atomic Energy Commission beach mineral sand extraction center took part in the discussion. Mohammad Masud Karim, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment Sheikh Nazmul Huda, Fisheries expert Palash Khandaker, Ecolife Manager Md. Abdul Qayyum, industrialist Omar Hasan, journalist Ahmad Gias and others.
Bangladesh currently has demand for
3.7 billion cubic feet natural gas per day (bcfd), whereas the gas supply is
2.7bcfd - a massive shortage of 1bcfd of natural gas every day. The reserve of
Natural Gas in Bangladesh will be able to run the country for next 14 years. So
the government should take proper decisions and steps to utilize the reserved 100
trillion cubic feet of natural gas found beneath the Bay of Bengal.
Thanks,
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