By Mynul Hasan Sohel (Dhaka Bureau)
Bangladesh’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has underscored the importance of developing an integrated master plan for industrialization in the country’s southern region, centered around the vast natural gas reserves in Bhola.
‘It is essential for skilled and visionary individuals to step forward and deliberate on how this resource can be effectively utilized to accelerate sustainable development and industrialization across the entire region,’ the Minister stated.
The Minister made these remarks as the chief guest at an Iftar and Doa Mahfil organized by the Barishal Divisional Journalists’ Association, Dhaka, held at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) on Tuesday evening.
It is worth noting that while significant gas reserves have been discovered in Bhola’s Shahbazpur and surrounding areas, constraints in supplying it to the national grid remain a challenge. Minister Swapan emphasized a ‘coordinated master plan’ to ensure that this gas is not merely used locally but integrated as a primary fuel source for industries throughout the southern region, including the Barishal division.
The Information Minister stressed the urgency of determining how the gas discovered in Bhola can be incorporated into a broader industrial framework and distributed efficiently.
Highlighting the existing limitations in the southern region’s overall transportation and tourism sectors, he noted that while the road has been expanded to six lanes up to Bhanga, the route beyond that remains challenging. He pointed out that the development of road infrastructure and the assurance of reliable air transport are critical for the movement of raw materials and the supply of finished industrial products.
Furthermore, he remarked that despite possessing immense natural assets like Kuakata, there is a lack of initiative to ensure their full utilization. He called for bringing all these elements- natural resources, infrastructure, and transport- under a comprehensive sustainable development framework.
The event featured Advocate Moazzem Hossain Alal, Advisor to the Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), as the special guest. Other speakers included Obaidur Rahman Shahin, President of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ); Ayub Bhuiyan, General Secretary of the Jatiya Press Club and Abu Saleh Akon, President of the DRU.
The program was chaired by Zahirul Haque Rana, President of the Barishal Divisional Journalists’ Association, Dhaka, and moderated by its General Secretary, Mynul Hasan Sohel. Leaders and members of various journalist organizations were in attendance.
The call for a comprehensive master plan in southern Bangladesh highlights a critical juncture for regional development. From a humanist and sustainable perspective, the utilization of natural resources like the Bhola gas reserves must transcend mere industrial expansion. It requires a model that prioritizes ecological balance, community empowerment, and equitable distribution of wealth. By integrating these resources into a ‘Circular Economy’ framework and enhancing infrastructure like tourism in Kuakata, Bangladesh has the opportunity to create a blueprint for development that balances economic growth with peace and environmental stewardship.
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The Author:
Mynul Hasan Sohel: Special Correspondent for the Daily Inqilab and Honorary Executive Editor of Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau.