RANGPUR, Aug 20: The iron mine project in Bhelamari area under Pirganj upazila in the district has been lying abandoned for long.
According to official sources, the geological experts of the then Pakistan discovered the mine at the end of 1967 which has a huge reserve of best quality iron.
At that time the iron mine was in a premature stage and the experts suggested the authority to wait for around 20 to 25 years in order to let it reach the stage of maturity.
However, after a long time of more than 30 years the then government of Bangladesh initiated its execution in 1999, with a programme to excavate 2000 feet beneath the surface for three months. But because of non-availability of required funds the excavation programme was stopped midway.
Presently, fate of the project has become uncertain for want of necessary funds and the negligence of the authority concerned, sources alleged.
According to experts, the huge reserve of high quality iron similar to the imported one could meet the domestic demand to a great extent.
In this situation people of the region demanded implementation of the project as soon as possible.
It is expected that a good number of unemployed youths will be able to get jobs in the mine if the project is implemented, leading to improvement of the socio-economic condition of the poverty-stricken people of the region.
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