Survey on cards to map marine resources

The Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB) has planned a project on the geo-characterization of the offshore areas of Bangladesh to explore the marine resources and assess the hazards there. Upon completion of the project, a basic geo-scientific databank of the coast and the sea within Bangladeshi territory would be created. It would support sustainable exploration of marine resources and infrastructure development. The five-year project, to be implemented by the GSB at a cost of Tk. 536.7 crore, will tentatively begin by the end of this year, said a GSB official. GSB director general Md Nehal Uddin told The Independent that the project proposal is currently in the Mineral Resources Division of the ministry of power, energy and mineral resources.
“After the approval of the Mineral Resources Division, the proposal will be sent to the Planning Commission. It
will then be placed before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval,” said Nehal Uddin. “Amicable settlements of Bangladesh maritime boundaries with India and Myanmar have given us the opportunity to explore our marine territory to collect detailed geo-scientific and engineering geological data of the coasts and the seabed,” he said.
Nehal Uddin said the data would aid geo-characterization, mineral resources identification, exploration of gas hydrates, construction of sea port and deep sea port, construction of oil and gas platforms, sub-sea gas or oil pipeline construction, submarine cable layout, etc.
As part of the project, the GSB would acquire a modern dynamic position survey vessel and conduct stepwise
geological, geomorphological, geo-technical, and geo-
hazard reconnaissance mapping of coastal and estuaries
areas, territorial sea up to 12 nautical miles (22.22km),
exclusive economic zone up to 200 nautical miles (370.4km) and onwards up to 350 nautical miles (648.2km) to develop a preliminary geo-scientific database of maritime areas
and to identify the areas of interest for detailed research
activities in future.
It would identify and assess economic mineral deposits, assess sediment distribution patterns, and dispositional characteristics in the coast and the territorial sea.
Bangladesh owns more than 118,813 sq. km of waters, comprising the territorial sea and an exclusive economic zone extending for 200 nautical miles (370 km). It also has sovereign rights on the seabed extending 354 nautical miles (around 656 km) from Chittagong coast along the Bay of Bengal with all living and non-living resources therein.

Survey on cards to map marine resources

The Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB) has planned a project on the geo-characterization of the offshore areas of Bangladesh to explore the marine resources and assess the hazards there. Upon completion of the project, a basic geo-scientific databank of the coast and the sea within Bangladeshi territory would be created. It would support sustainable exploration of marine resources and infrastructure development. The five-year project, to be implemented by the GSB at a cost of Tk. 536.7 crore, will tentatively begin by the end of this year, said a GSB official. GSB director general Md Nehal Uddin told The Independent that the project proposal is currently in the Mineral Resources Division of the ministry of power, energy and mineral resources. After the approval of the Mineral Resources Division, the proposal will be sent to the Planning Commission. It will then be placed before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval, said Nehal Uddin. Amicable settlements of Bangladesh maritime boundaries with India and Myanmar have given us the opportunity to explore our marine territory to collect detailed geo-scientific and engineering geological data of the coasts and the seabed, he said. Nehal Uddin said the data would aid geo-characterization, mineral resources identification, exploration of gas hydrates, construction of sea port and deep sea port, construction of oil and gas platforms, sub-sea gas or oil pipeline construction, submarine cable layout, etc. As part of the project, the GSB would acquire a modern dynamic position survey vessel and conduct stepwise geological, geomorphological, geo-technical, and geo- hazard reconnaissance mapping of coastal and estuaries areas, territorial sea up to 12 nautical miles (22.22km), exclusive economic zone up to 200 nautical miles (370.4km) and onwards up to 350 nautical miles (648.2km) to develop a preliminary geo-scientific database of maritime areas and to identify the areas of interest for detailed research activities in future. It would identify and assess economic mineral deposits, assess sediment distribution patterns, and dispositional characteristics in the coast and the territorial sea. Bangladesh owns more than 118,813 sq. km of waters, comprising the territorial sea and an exclusive economic zone extending for 200 nautical miles (370 km). It also has sovereign rights on the seabed extending 354 nautical miles (around 656 km) from Chittagong coast along the Bay of Bengal with all living and non-living resources therein.