Major Resources of Bangladesh

Bangladesh inhabits a bigger part of natural resource of the Bengal basin

geographically. Bangladesh is small country with a rapidly growing population
that has increased pressure on its natural resources of which the major ones are
discussed below.
Coal
Bangladesh holds around 322 MMst of proven coal reserves which ranks 48th
in the world. Right now, Bangladesh is producing 2,700 to 3,000 tons of coal
from the Barapukuria coal mine of Dinajpur. Besides Barapukuria, this coal is
stored in Dighipara, Phulbari, Jamalganj, and Khalashpir coal fields. All the
discovered fields lie in the north-western part of the country.
Natural Gas
Natural gas is a major source of energy for Bangladesh which contributes to
more than 70% of commercial energy in the country. Bangladesh holds 7.25
trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven gas reserves as of 2017, ranking 42nd in the
world. The northeastern Sylhet Division is the country's largest natural gas and
crude oil producer, followed by Chittagong, Dhaka and Barisal Division; while
dozens of offshore blocks lay in the Bay of Bengal. The Bibiyana gas field in
Habiganj District is the country's largest gas field. Natural gas from
Bangladesh is renowned for being very pure with a composition of 95–99%
methane and almost no sulfur.
Water Bodies
Bangladesh has about 700 rivers including tributaries and distributaries, which
criss-cross the landscape and create about 98,000 ha of inland water bodies and
more than 24,000 km streams or water channels. There are about 1.3 million
pond in Bangladesh covering about 1,47,000 ha area. There are about 10,000
haors, baors and beels.
Fisheries Resource
Bangladesh, with its rich inland waters and river systems, has significant
capture fishery and aquaculture potential. The fisheries sector plays a very
important role in the national economy, contributing 3.69% to the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) of the country (FRSS, 2016). In 2020-21 the total
fish production is 46.21 lac Metric Ton (MT). There are 260 freshwater and
475 marine fish species in the country. About 12 exotic species are being
cultured in the country.
About 1.4 million Bangladeshi nationals have employment prospects in the
fishing business, which boosts the country’s economy. Additionally, fisheries
support a generally nutrient-rich diet for the inhabitants as well as foreign
exchange revenues.
White Clay
White clay was discovered first at Bhedikura of Durgapur Thana in the
Mymensingh district in 1957. The reserves is 2.47 million ton in an area of
3.84 sq km up to the down dip of 60m. This is known as Bijoypur white clay.
There are surface to near surface deposits of white clay in Bijoypur and
Gopalpur area of Netrokona district, Nalitabari of Sherpur district, Haidgaon
of Chittagong district and Baitul Izzat of Satkania thana, Chittagong district.
Besides there are subsurface deposits of white clay in Maddhyapara,
Barapukuria, Dighipara of Dinajpur district and Patnitala of Naogaon district.
The exposed white clay is not good in quality. It is used in the ceramic factories
of Bangladesh after mixing with high quality imported clay.
Salt
According to BSCIC, the country's salt reserve is 20.03 million metric tonnes.
Salt is produced in 60,796 acres of land in various upazilas of Cox's Bazar.
Recently salt cultivation has also begun in the coastal belts of Khulna and
Satkhira.
Salt is contributing about 120 million taka in the national economy every year.
1 to 1.5 million people of coastal belt is dependent economically and socially
on salt cultivation. Production of salt in solar method depends completely on
nature. According to the data of Bangladesh Bank, 7.58 lakh metric ton of
various types of salt was imported in 2018-19.
Soil
The major part of Bangladesh is on the delta formed by the three major rivers
brahmaputra, ganges and meghna. Over millennia, the sediments carried by the
huge discharges of these rivers have built a broad delta, forming most of the
large area of Bangladesh and the submerged delta-plain in the bay of bengal.
These huge sediments are the major sources of formation of 80% soils of the
country. The remaining 20% of soils have been formed in Tertiary and
Quaternary sediments of hills (12%) and in uplifted pleistocene terrace (8%).
The soil resources development institute (SRDI) has identified about 500 soil
series in Bangladesh.

Biomass Resources
• Agricultural Residue
The total farming area of Bangladesh is around 90500 km², which is 61.3% of
the total region. The total arable land is 79700 km² which is 54% of the total
zone. Paddy straw, rice husks, wheat straw, coconut husk, and shell aced oil
tree, beans, vegetables, trees, jute, and sugar stick bagasse, etc. are the major
agrarian residues.
• Municipal Solid Waste
Rural populace waste produces just 0.15 kg for each capita every day, while
the urban populace creates 0.4 to 0.5 kg for each capita every day in
Bangladesh. MSW is created from various sources as 75 to 85% private, 11 to
22% business, 1 to 1.5% institutional, and 0.5 to 1.25% others.
• Forest Residue
A total of 2.52 million hectares territory which is almost 17.4 percent of the
landmass is timberlands. Bangladesh has five categorized zones that make up
its forest into: 1. Sundarban forest, 2. Chattogram hill tracts forest, 3.
Madhupur and Bhawal forests, 4. Sylhet forest, 5. Rangpur and Dinajpur
Forest.
 • Animal Manure
Cows, goats, and sheep are the general source of animal manure in the nation.
Biomass energy production and power generation utilizing animal manure may
turn into a feasible energy and power demand settlement in rural areas of
Bangladesh.
Natural Oil
Bangladesh has struck its first oil, in two gas fields in the northeastern Sylhet
region, estimated at about 153 million barrels, in the two gas fields. The oil
found was light and low Sulphur quality. According to Petrobangla, the reserve
is enough to meet the country’s oil demand for two years.
Conclusion
When we talk about the economy of a developing country like Bangladesh then
we have to acknowledge it that mineral resource could be a great turning point.
Our manpower is a great substitute to natural resources. If we start to make a
good combination between our manpower and natural resources then we can
say that it will bring a great positive affect on our economy.