Power Plant and Fertilizer Factory to Be Built in Bhola: PM in Parliament
It will take at least seven years to build a pipeline to transport gas directly from Bhola to the mainland, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman told Parliament. Therefore, instead of waiting for a mainland gas pipeline, the government has adopted specific plans to establish industries, build a fertilizer factory and construct a new power plant directly in Bhola.
The Prime Minister made the remarks on Wednesday (September 9) in response to a supplementary question from Sultana Ahmed, a member of reserved women’s seat-17, in Parliament.
The Prime Minister said that implementing a plan to transport Bhola’s gas to the mainland through a pipeline would take around seven years. Therefore, the government is focusing more on alternative and quickly implementable measures. Work has already begun to facilitate the establishment of large-scale industries in Bhola. Many industrial entrepreneurs are making sincere efforts to set up gas-based industries there. Local use of the gas for industrialization would create extensive employment opportunities in Bhola while significantly expanding the regional economy.
Outlining detailed plans to use Bhola’s gas for the overall welfare of the people and in the national interest, the Prime Minister said the government plans to establish a large fertilizer factory there. In addition, an initiative is being taken to build another 500-megawatt power plant at the same location. Once these projects are implemented, the maximum utilization of Bhola’s gas resources will be ensured.
In response to a question from Bhola-4 constituency MP Mohammad Nurul Islam during the question-answer session in Parliament, the Prime Minister said a special strategic development framework for the next five years has been formulated as part of implementing the government’s 2026 election manifesto. The development plan, covering July 2026 to June 2031, prioritizes balanced and equitable economic growth across all regions of the country. An integrated master plan for Bhola is being formulated considering the district’s regional characteristics, local natural resources, people’s needs, coastal climate risks and infrastructure limitations.
Parliament was also informed of specific measures to utilize Bhola’s extensive natural gas resources for the national economy. The government has planned to construct a new 400-megawatt gas-based power plant in Bhola. In addition, an initiative is being implemented to convert 60 million cubic feet of gas per day from the Bheduria and Ilisha gas fields into LNG and supply it to Khulna’s power hub through lighterage operations. Once these projects become operational, they will ensure proper utilization of Bhola’s gas while further strengthening the country’s overall energy security.
The Prime Minister said Bhola has been given special importance under a dedicated framework aimed at increasing the effective contribution of marine and coastal resources to the national economy. Under the new strategic framework, Bhola district and its surrounding islands have been designated as the main focal point of the central zone of the blue economy. The zone will prioritize conservation of the national silver resource hilsa and other fisheries, integrated agricultural development in the extensive coastal char areas, construction of climate-resilient infrastructure and ensuring maritime security.
Considering Bhola’s strategic geographical location, gas fields, fertile agricultural land and abundant coastal fisheries, the government has emphasized long-term development planning and increased public-private investment. The Prime Minister said these integrated initiatives are expected to bring about a new and transformative change in the overall economy of the island district of Bhola in the coming days.
