Date: 23/02/2020

News Article Analysis 9

Course: G102 - Bangladesh Studies
Faculty: Mr. Sheikh Morshed Jahan
Submitted by:
Amran Azad
BBA 28 Section B
Roll: ZR-76
“Country’s first-ever private Bitumen Plant to be launched on Saturday” critical analysis:
Bitumen is a binding organic material made from the by-products of refined crude oil. It is
widely used in road construction because it is easy to produce, reusable, non-toxic, and a strong
binder. Country's first-ever private sector Bitumen Plant is going to be launched on Saturday,
aiming to cater to the growing demand for bitumen in the country. Bashundhara Group under its
new concern Bashundhara Oil and Gas Company Ltd has built the 'Bashundhara Bitumen Plant'
at Pangaon in Keraniganj. As Bangladesh is largely dependent on imported bitumen, the first-
ever private sector venture by Bashundhara Group will be able to produce 850,000 tonnes of
bitumen and asphalt annually. According to various sources, Bangladesh’s monthly bitumen
demand is around 42,000 tonnes while the demand is growing at an average rate of 10-15 per
cent a year. In addition to producing commonly used penetration grades road bitumen,
Bashundhara Bitumen or Asphalt Plant has the facility to produce premium modified grades of
bitumen upon demand. Apart from this, fuel oil and some other by-products produced in the
plant will be sold or disposed of to appropriate clientele.

Bashundhara Bitumen Plant has been built with the state-of-the-art technology and the producer
has the plan to export bitumen after meeting local demand. Bashundhara Group, a leading
business conglomerate in the country, has over 20 major concerns located in different areas of
the country. It covers diverse activities involving the production of cement, paper and pulp,
tissue paper, LPG bottling and distribution, Energy, and a trading company, among others.