Despite Ample Gas and Electricity, No Gas-Based Industries Have Been Established in Bhola in 30 Years

Despite having sufficient electricity generation capacity and substantial proven natural gas reserves, the island district of Bhola has failed to attract the expected gas-based industries over the past three decades. As a result, large quantities of gas remain unused, while local residents continue to miss out on industrial development and employment opportunities despite the abundance of natural resources.

Against this backdrop, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent announcement of plans to establish a planned industrial park, a fertiliser factory and a new 500-megawatt power plant in Bhola has raised fresh hopes. However, residents no longer want mere assurances; they want to see tangible progress and swift implementation.

According to available information, Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (BAPEX) discovered the Shahbazpur Gas Field in Bhola’s Borhanuddin upazila in 1995. The field holds approximately 2 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of natural gas. Commercial extraction began around 14 years later, in 2009. The Bhola North gas field was discovered in 2018, followed by the Ilisha-1 gas field in 2023. However, even after three decades, the potential for large-scale industrialisation through the full commercial use of these gas resources remains largely confined to plans and proposals.

Local residents allege that the previous government made various promises to establish a fertiliser factory, an export processing zone (EPZ), an economic zone and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant. However, none of these projects materialised. Although entrepreneurs showed initial interest at different times, administrative complications and a lack of political will ultimately prevented the projects from moving forward.

Recently, however, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman made what residents described as a historic announcement in Parliament about establishing an industrial park in Bhola. On September 9, the Prime Minister told Parliament again that transporting Bhola’s gas to the mainland through pipelines could take around seven years. Therefore, plans have been made to use the resource locally to establish a fertiliser factory and a new 500-megawatt power plant. The announcement has raised considerable hopes among local businesspeople and ordinary residents.

Zakir Hossain Mohin, executive director of the Grameen Jan Unnayan Sangstha, said the people of Bhola had been deprived of gas-based industries over the past 34 years due to a lack of political will. In the past, entrepreneurs withdrew because of various negative factors, including extortion.

“Our demand to the current government is that, alongside transporting gas to the national grid, heavy industries should be established in Bhola on a priority basis,” he said.

Gholam Nabi Alamgir, president of the Bhola Chamber of Commerce and administrator of the district council, noted that transporting Bhola’s gas to Barishal would cost around Tk 1,100 crore. He said that instead of spending this huge amount, establishing a fertiliser factory, an agro-processing centre and an EPZ in Bhola would create local jobs and significantly benefit the national economy.

Raisul Alam, member secretary of the Bhola district unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), said the island district remained far behind in several indicators of development. He added that effective measures to ensure the proper and balanced use of its natural resources could give fresh momentum to the country’s economy.

Bhola Deputy Commissioner Dr Shamim Rahman said comprehensive development based on gas resources had long been a major demand of the district’s residents. He noted that Bhola had immense potential for establishing both small and heavy industries. To realise this potential, the district administration would take coordinated initiatives to attract foreign investors alongside encouraging domestic investment.

Residents across Bhola are now united in their demand to transform the district into a modern economic hub by making full use of its abundant natural resources. They want an end to years of unfulfilled promises and are calling for specific, practical steps to ensure that the long-awaited development finally becomes a reality.