NATURAL RESOURCES OF

BANGLADESH
PRESENTED BY
JEBA ANIKA
LECTURER
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ASIA
What do we mean by natural resources?
 The resources which are available in the territorial jurisdiction of
Bangladesh are all regarded as natural resources.
 Some types of Natural resources of Bangladesh
i. Mineral resources
• Coal
• Natural Gas
• Hardrock
• Limestone
• Silica Sand
 Mineral
Resources

Natural Forestry
Fisheries
Resources

Livestock
• Livestock Resources in Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s livestock is divided into two main species: Ruminants and Poultry.
Cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats are under Ruminants, and ducks and chickens
are under Poultry. The livestock sub-sectors includes poultry and offers
employment and livelihood opportunities particularly for the rural people,
including the landless, many of whom regard livestock as a main livelihood
option.
Livestock sub-sectors contribution for the National economy as 1.7 percent around
2.83 GDP growth as a whole in 2013-2014 per year. The number of livestock in
Bangladesh is not adequate against its requirement. In FY 2021-22, the total amount of
livestock in Bangladesh exceeded 43 crores. Due to this Bangladesh is now self-
sufficient in meat production and can meet the population demand for 830 grams of
meat per capita.
REASONS FOR DEVELOPING LIVESTOCK IN BANGLADESH
• Skilled Manpower
At present, educated unemployed youth in Bangladesh are interested in raising
poultry and cattle rather than looking for employment. According to Prothom
Alo, there are about 5000 modern cattle farms in and around Dhaka which are
run by young entrepreneurs.
• Increasing Protein Consumption
Bangladeshi consumers have become aware of protein-rich foods due to their
increased affordability. In the past, people were unable to afford beef or goat
meat because of the price.
• Increasing Investment
The livestock sector in Bangladesh receives increasing amounts of investment
every year. The entire livestock industry is looking toward rapid growth and
business opportunity, and the biggest conglomerates in the country are also
interested in investing in this sector. In 2018, the Bangladesh government signed a
$500 million financing agreement with the World Bank.
• Government Initiatives
The government has taken a number of initiatives and campaigns to develop the
livestock sector. Through the ‘Amar Bari Amar Khamar’ scheme launched in
2009, more than 13 lakh households have set up family farms by 2019.
Furthermore, various training programs on agriculture and livestock farming are
organized by the government.
• Development of Livestock in the future plan
Increase peoples participation through development
Generate income and alleviate poverty
Increase the supply of milk, meat, eggs, birds etc through the improvement
of breed, feed and disease control of animals and birds.
Undertaken research programs
Increasing the quality of both cattle and buffaloes.
Involving private sectors and local NG0’s.
CHALLENGES

• Prone to Disease Outbreak

Bangladesh’s livestock sector has been affected by a variety of viruses and
bacteria attacks. In 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2017, Bangladesh’s poultry industry
was attacked by Avian Influenza (Bird Flu). Thus, the poultry industry suffered
a loss of BDT 5500 crore due to a decline in poultry consumption.
• Import Dependency
Raw materials for livestock feed, including wheat, soybeans, corn, palm oil,
and rice bran, are seasonal crops in Bangladesh. So to meet the demand
throughout the year, they need to be imported from India, China, Russia, and
South America.
• Lack of Standardization
The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution, or BSTI, is responsible for providing
certification for food product standardization in Bangladesh. However, there is no standard
certification or grading system for meat and meat products. Thus, there is not yet a fully
standardized quality control system for poultry or other meat products in the country. As a result,
the country’s poultry sector is dominated by foreign companies.
To ensure a more sustainable growth of the livestock sector, the sector needs to first overcome
constraints like capital shortage, raw materials and institutional credit inadequacy. Also, it needs
to add value to livestock product marketing, and disease control. Moreover, the government
should formulate a plan to provide low-interest loans to farmers working in this sector through
public and private banks, encouraging private investment, and ensuring the quality of day-old
chicks, medicines, vaccines, feed, and breeding materials through legal and regulatory
frameworks.
• Opportunities for increasing livestock production
 Dairy development and meat production
 Poultry Development
 Veterinary and animal health
 Feeds and animal management
 Breed development
 Hides and skins
Forestry in Bangladesh
• The total forest area of Bangladesh is 2.6 million hectares, which is nearly
17.4% of the total land area of the country. The forestry sector accounts for
about 3% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and 2% of the
labour force.
• The largest areas of forest are in the Chittagong hill tracts and
the Sundarbans. The evergreen and delicious forest of the Chittagong Hills
cover more than 4,600 square kilometers (1,800 sq mi) and are the source
of teak for heavy construction and boat building, as well as other forest
products.
• Challenges of Forestry in Bangladesh
Decreasing farm size and the bad quality of soil.
Decreasing water resources.
The growing competition of the floral market due to trade liberalization.
Coping with climate change.
Economic growth and income inequality in rural areas.
 Fisheries in Bangladesh
• Bangladesh, being a riverine country, boasts abundant water resources. In addition to numerous
rivers, canals, and ponds throughout the country, the Bay of Bengal sits at the southern end.
According to The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020 report by the Food and
Agriculture Organization, Bangladesh ranks 3rd globally for fish extraction from open water
bodies and 5th in aquaculture production. Moreover, Bangladesh ranks 4th globally and 3rd in
Asia for tilapia fish production. However, the country’s most significant achievement in the
sector is its position at the top among the 11 countries that produce Hilsa fish, which is the
national fish and accounts for more than 12% of the country’s total fish production.
• Over the last three decades, Bangladesh’s fish production has increased six-fold. In the fiscal
year 1983-84, the country produced only 7.54 lakh metric tons of fish, whereas, in the fiscal
year 2020-21, this figure exceeded 46.21 lakh metric tons. In fact, the government of
Bangladesh’s Vision-2021 aimed for 45.52 lakh metric tons of fish production in 2020-21,
which has already been surpassed.
• Challenges in Fisheries in Bangladesh
The fisheries sector in Bangladesh is facing significant challenges, including
unregulated fishing practices and inadequate river governance. Despite the
long history of fishing in the country, unsustainable fishing methods have led
to a decline in fish populations in open water bodies such as rivers, channels,
canals, and Haur-Baor. In addition, the lack of proper drainage and
management has contributed to the decline in fish reproduction. As a
consequence, there has been a shift towards fish farming, which can pose
challenges to the fisheries sector due to the high production costs associated
with raising farmed fish.