Iron mine project in Pirganj stays abandoned for decades

RANGPUR, Nov 2: The iron mine project at Pirganj upazila in Rangpur district, about 45 kilometers off the city has remained abandoned for years.

According to official sources the geological experts of the then Pakistan discovered the mine in 1968 which had a huge reserve of best quality iron under Bhelamari union of Pirganj upazila. At that time the iron mine was in a premature stage and the experts suggested the authority to wait for a few years to let it reach the stage of maturity.

However, after a long time of over 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 due to non-availability of required funds the excavation programme was stopped midway.

The project is now lying in an abandoned state due to lack of required funds and the negligence of the concerned authority, sources alleged.

According to experts, the huge reserve of high quality iron comparable to the imported one could meet the domestic demand to a great extent. There are prospects of job opportunities for hundreds of unemployed youths and the country will also be able to save huge foreign exchange if the project is implemented, they added.

In this situation the people of the region have strongly demand that the government should resume work of this abandoned iron mine.

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