An independent economy is the most desired destination for any underdeveloped country. Reducing dependency on foreign aid and grants is just an elementary step, and we are already on that track. But if we don't have enough resources, 100% independence will remain just a dream.
"Black Gold": The Area of Highest Possibility
I'm sure many people have heard about the "myth" of black gold hidden in the
southern part of Bangladesh. In Cox's Bazar, Maheshkhali, Saint Martins
On the island, billions of dollars are waiting to be converted from black sand. (titanium, zircon, rutile, etc.) to a prosperous Bangladesh.
According to a valuation survey accomplished by Prof. Lutfor Rahman in
1992-93 The estimated total value of the mineral at the current market price is U$2,620,974,561,403!!!!
Believe it or not!!!!!
Yes, this is almost unbelievable!! But you may have noticed some black mixed elements in the sands of Cox's Bazar beach while you visited there. The
contents of those black elements are ZIRCON, RUTILE, ELEMNITE, LUCOXIN,
KAYENITE, GARNET, MONAZITE, MAGNETITE etc. very precious minerals.
There are a total of 17 big lots of those minerals with an average length of 1 km in the whole southern part of Bangladesh. Cox's Bazar, Maheshkhali, Kutubdia, and Saint Martins Island, Nijhum Deep, Kuakata, etc. are the major sources of
"black gold".
Let us just look at the 3 elements Zircon, Rutile, and Elemnite found in just
Cox's Bazar,
ZIRCON 107602 ton 672,381 crore taka
RUTILE 39140 ton 244,240 crore taka
ELEMNITE 664844 ton 13,144,734 crore taka
The above pricing was accomplished by Prof. Lutfor Rahman, an ex-mechanical engineer.
of the American Geological Survey, who has vast experience in this field,
worked for a long time in the Middle East and African countries about these types
of project.
Needless to say, the most difficult part of this work is the
purification. Without purifying to a certain level, we can't get that high price.
mentioned above. The purity level is needed to be 99.8%. It is very
tough work and very expensive, but is it totally impossible? I will say no!!
It looks impossible with the current technological support in place.
Bangladesh. But BUET Professor A.S.O. Kurny purified the electrons up to 92%.
Prof. A.S.M.A. Hasib is working to achieve the highest purification rate of
Zircon. Another researcher, O.H. Kabir, has his own method to purify the
minerals at an affordable cost. If the government lends its hand to these
people, there would be a radical change. They are all very sincere about work.
on this exploration and purification work. They need support from the
government and from the related government agency that is responsible for the
mineral resources.
But unfortunately, the government has taken all the decisions, bypassing all these
local expertise and made an unfair deal with an Australian exploration company.
where the interest of Bangladesh was not taken care of as it was supposed to.
The mineral was discovered for the first time in 1961 by some Pakistanis.
neuclear scientists. After several attempts were made to start the
purification project. But due to the 1971 war and frequent political
turmoil, no government took special care. Eventually, the past AL government made
an agreement with Australian International Titanium Resources and current
The BNP government approved the project. The company has already started their
primary works.
According to local expertise, the agreement will not protect the
interest of Bangladesh, and Bangladesh will earn a very small fraction of the
minerals price. A report published in the Weekly 2000 on February 8, 2002
The reporter, Asadur Rahman, stated the details of the "black gold" exploration.
situation at this time. This matter came to the attention of most of
Bangladeshis after the publication of this report. Both the Bangladesh
The government and an Australian company expressed their annoyance to the reporter.
because of the bold presentation.
At this stage, we all conscious and patriot Bangladeshi people must raise
their voice to protect the interests of our people. We want to see a national
valuation committee with local expertise who will work on finding a way to
Purify the mineral at its highest level.
Why are these issues never disclosed to the public? Who decides to sell the
national interest and national resources with a nominal price? Why there are
always secret and unfair deals? Why are local experts always neglected? When
Bangladesh will be able to make decisions about its own resources. When
Bangladesh will achieve control of herself.
What is my slogan? Use foreign technology with local experts!!!
Please raise your voice to save your own resources from
your own soil. Please do come with your ideas, your suggestions, and your
knowledge and your experiences. Wherever you are doesn't matter; please help.
Bangladesh is in this issue. Your conscious voice can help Bangladesh become
an economic giant in South Asia.
..................................................
[14 July 2002, Alochona Forum Post]
No comments:
Post a Comment