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In the sandy shoals of the riverine area Gaibandha, valuable minerals valued at several thousand billion of taka have been spotted in an invisible form. Gaibandha, which contains four upazilas and 165 chars (shoals), is surrounded by rivers. The riverbanks of the Jamuna and Brahmaputra are impassable, sand shoals have formed. The rivers here often experience high tides during the monsoon. According to a research, minerals worth several thousand crores of Taka are still concealed in the shoals of sand. The sandy shoals of the Brahmaputra River, which flows between the districts of Gaibandha and Kurigram, are home to six different types of precious minerals, according to a study done by the Institute of Mining, Mineralogy and Metallurgy, which carries out research on mineral resources. 

According to the institution, which cited the research findings, without any techno-economic evaluation, the cost of the mineral resources detected in each square kilometre region would be at least Tk 36.3 billion (3,630 crore). The sandy river shoals are rich in mineral resources, according to the survey's specialists. The precious minerals garnet, magnetite, zircon, rutile, ilminite, and quartz have all been found in the shoals. Paints, plastics, welding rods, inks, meals, cosmetics, and medications are among the items that employ rutile. 

These minerals are exported worldwide by Australia, India, Italy, Sri Lanka, Thailand, South Africa, Sierra Leone, and the United States.  
 
Zircon is utilized in the manufacturing of moulding sands, tiles, and ceramics.  
Currently, this natural resource is exported all over the world by the US, Australia, South Africa, India, China, Brazil, and Sierra Leone. In addition to being utilized in the drilling of deep wells for oil and gas exploration, magnetite is also employed in the manufacturing of steel and magnets, as well as in the cleaning of coal taken from mines.  
Only two nations in the world export this priceless mineral worldwide: Australia and South Africa. The mineral garnet is expensive and hefty. It is employed in the sandblasting process, ferrous pipe cleaning, and corrugated paper production. Australia and India are now the world's top exporters of the material.  
 
The source of the Brahmaputra is near the Kailash peak in the Himalayas, at Lake Mansarovar. It flows through Tibet and Assam in India, then into Bangladesh via Kurigram. Once in Saghata, the Jamuna gave rise to its name. A preliminary study was conducted from 2010 to 2012 to determine which minerals are present in the area. 

2,500 tons of sand were sourced from various sandbanks in Kurigram, Gaibandha. 2 kg of ilminite 200 kg of rutile 400 kg of zircon 3.8 kg of magnetite 12 kg of garnet 50 kg of quartz minerals per tonne of sand were extracted through various processes. The market value of sand used for building purposes after 10 metres of sand are extracted per square kilometre is estimated to be between 800 million to 1 billion rupees (80-100 crores).  

By Dini Domini K

CEO