Rangpur: Exploration activities have officially resumed at the Bhelamari field in Chhoto Paharpur village of Shanerhat union under Pirganj upazila, marking a significant development in the country's mineral resources sector. This historic move comes six decades after the initial discovery of the country's first-known iron mine in the region. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the renewed exploration efforts were inaugurated by Mohammad Saiful Islam, the Secretary of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, during an event held on Saturday. The Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB), under the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, organized the program, which marked the commencement of the "Geological Well Drilling (GDH-79/2025)" activities. The event witnessed the participation of notable figures including the Director General (Additional Secretary) of the Geological Survey of Bangladesh, Md Abdul Mannan, Deputy Director General Engineer Ali Akbar, and Pirganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Most Popi Khatun. Shanerhat union parishad Chairman Mesbahur Rahman, Managing Director of Pashchimanchal Gas Company, and Managing Director of Maddhapara Granite Mining Company Limited were also present. Official sources reveal that the initial discovery of the iron mine at Bhelamari field was made in 1965 by the Department of Mineral Resources of the then Pakistan government. During that period, four wells were drilled to identify the mine's location, with concrete markers still visible today. The initial survey was conducted after the Indo-Pak war on September 6, 1965, when officials from the Mineral Resources Department marked the area following satellite image analysis. Despite discussions over the years regarding the commencement of mining activities, it is only now, after 60 years, that exploration has been officially launched. Secretary Mohammad Saiful Islam emphasized the significance of the mineral resources, describing the exploration as a national dream and expressing the government's commitment to su pporting resource extraction. Deputy Director General of GSB Engineer Akbar Ali highlighted past excavations, including the EDS-15 and GDH-54 wells, which provided preliminary data. In 2023, a well named 78/23 was drilled in Kashimpur village, revealing some mineral resources. Plans are in place to drill to a depth of 1,200 meters this year. Engineer Akbar Ali stated that the presence of metallic minerals such as iron, copper, nickel, manganese, and potentially gold is possible, though confirmation will require further investigation. He noted that if resource quantities are sufficient to justify extraction costs, the government will be petitioned to commence mining operations.
