Brahmaputra's mineral-rich sand seen as promising revenue source in Gaibandha

GAIBANDHA, Nov 09: As Bangladesh recently started technically examining the commercial potential of mineral-rich sand found in the rivers of northern regions, the high-value minerals of Brahmaputra River's sand in Gaibandha would be a promising source of revenue if environment-friendly extraction process are ensured, according to an expert.

"Although the presence of minerals in the sand of the rivers of northern Bangladesh, including the Brahmaputra, has been known for a long time, its commercial potential is now being technically examined. If the right policies and environmentally friendly extraction process are ensured, it can be a huge source of revenue for the country," a senior researcher at Institute of Mining, Mineralogy and Metallurgy (IMM), BCSIR, said.

Several high-value minerals, including ilmenite, rutile, zircon, magnetite, garnet and quartz have been found in the sand of Brahmaputra, according to a recent report by the IMM. These minerals are used in paint, ceramics, electronic components, glass and cosmetic industries-which are in-demand for exports.

The market value of 1,000 square kilometres of regular sand found at the depth of 10 metres of the river is at Tk 800-1000 million, which are used for construction purposes, according to the report. Meanwhile, the market-value of the mineral-rich sand of the same quantity is at Tk 36.3 billion.

Everlast Minerals Limited, a private mineral extraction company, is currently experimentally extracting minerals in the Balasighat area of Fulchhari. Company officials said that significant amounts of ilmenite and zircon have been found in the samples collected so far, which could open new horizons for industrial export income in the future.

Local residents see the discovery as an economic opportunity, but they have also expressed concerns about the river environment and the char area.

Mujibar Rahman, a resident of Fulchhari Upazila, said, "We want development, but the river should not be harmed. The Brahmaputra is our lifeline."

Environmental experts say that equal importance should be given on both the proper extraction of minerals and the protection of the natural flow of the river. Otherwise, it would be harmful for the environment.

Many people residing near the Brahmaputra hope that the river, which took their homes in the times of erosion, may open a new door of prosperity with the generated revenue from the minerals.

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