Prime Minister’s Directive to Establish Specialized University in Cox’s Bazar

An initiative has been launched to establish the specialized University of Blue Economy Sciences and Technology (UBEST) in Cox’s Bazar to advance higher education and research focused on the sea and coastal regions. Following this directive from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the Ministry of Education has been instructed to take immediate and necessary implementation measures, according to a confirmation from a PM’s Office source.

The proposal for UBEST was formally initiated on Sunday, September 13, through a Demi-Official (DO) letter sent to the PM by Home Minister and Cox’s Bazar-1 Member of Parliament Mr. Salahuddin Ahmed. The letter highlighted the critical need to prioritize skilled human resource development and advanced research to sustainably harness the vast marine resources of the Bay of Bengal and coastal regions.

To bypass the substantial time and funds required to build a fully-fledged campus from scratch, the proposal outlines launching academic activities promptly by utilizing the existing infrastructure of the Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (BORI) in Cox’s Bazar. This approach leverages BORI’s established laboratories, scientific manpower, and research facilities to immediately offer specialized education in oceanography, fisheries and aquaculture, marine environment, coastal resource management, the blue economy, and tourism and hospitality.

Relevant experts and stakeholders believe that the realization of UBEST will unlock unprecedented opportunities for higher education and specialized research centered on the marine ecosystem and economy of the Bay of Bengal. While initial operations will rely on BORI’s existing framework, long-term plans will simultaneously focus on developing the university’s permanent infrastructure and comprehensive academic framework.