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A recent photograph in some newspapers indicated that a contract was signed in Dhaka between Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and the US Department of Energy and a report said that a deal with the US for security of radioactive materials was also signed. We fail to understand the necessity and justification of signing such contract and deal.
Our eminent scientist Dr Kudrate-e-Khuda discovered in 1950s valuable radioactive minerals like rutile, magnetite, monazite, garnet, elemenite and Zirocon in Cox's Bazar.
Incidentally and fortunately I also found vast deposits of valuable minerals rutile, magnetite, monazite, garnet, elmenite and zirocon in Cox's Bazar and surrounding areas in 1970 which I would like to call black gold because of their market value.
In December, 1975, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission declared that they discovered heavy minerals worth Taka five hundred crore in Cox's Bazar. They also announced that they have set up a mineral plant in Cox's Bazar with the help of the Australian government. But so far they have done nothing tangible and fruitful. They have miserably failed to exploit these valuable minerals economically and commercially. Over last three decades I have left no stone unturned for commercial use and export of the valuable minerals by either the public sector or the private sector. I met, held meetings and discussions with top level government leaders and high government officials but all in vain. On this issue in numberable reports, articles, letters and editorials have been published in our various national dailies and weeklies from time to time.
Due to carelessness and inefficiency of authorities concerned valuable minerals worth millions of dollars have been washed away and lost to the sea. Better late than never. Valuable minerals ore found not only in Cox's Bazar but also in several other coastal areas of our country.
I demand of our government to hold a high level coordination meeting of all authorities concerned, such as the Prime Minister's office, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Science, Information Communication Technology, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Industries, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Geological Survey of Bangladesh, Bureau of Minerals and Export Promotion Bureau, to discuss, review and examine the pros and cons of the matter and to take pragmatic steps immediately for the economic and commercial exploitation of these valuable minerals under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister Bangladesh in the greater interest of our country.
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