Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has emphasised the importance of developing an integrated master plan for industrialisation in the country's southern region, focusing on the vast natural gas reserves in Bhola, reports BSS.
"It is essential for skilled and thoughtful individuals to step forward and consider how this resource can be utilised effectively to boost industrialisation across the region," he said.
Swapan was speaking as the chief guest at an Iftar and Doa Mahfil organised by the Barishal Divisional Journalists' Association based in the capital, at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) on Tuesday.
The minister said it is crucial to think about how the gas discovered in Bhola can be integrated into an industrial and factory-based plan for the southern region and how it can be distributed effectively.
Highlighting the limitations of the southern region's overall transportation and tourism system, he said even though the road has been expanded to six lanes up to Bhanga, the remaining route is still challenging.
Despite having huge natural resources like Kuakata, there is a lack of initiative to ensure their full utilisation, he said, adding that there is also a need for a clear assurance regarding air transport. These issues must be brought into an overall development framework, he said.
BNP Chairman's Adviser Advocate Moazzem Hossain Alal spoke as the special guest at the event while president of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Obaidur Rahman Shahin, Jatiya Press Club General Secretary Ayub Bhuiyan, DRU President Abu Saleh Akon also spoke.
Zahirul Haque Rana, president of the Barishal Divisional Journalists' Association, Dhaka, chaired the programme while general secretary Mynul Hasan Sohel moderated it.
Swapan focuses on master plan for industrialisation using Bhola's gas
FE Team | Published: March 17, 2026 23:51:05
Swapan focuses on master plan for industrialisation using Bhola's gas
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