Home BusinessBangladesh discovers abundant treasure worth millions in its backyard, could boost its economy manifold
If even 10% of the sediment is processed each year, it could generate an annual revenue of 2,000 crore taka.
Updated: November 1, 2025 5:23 PM IST
New Delhi: A small island in Bangladesh is poised to become a hub of gold for Bangladesh as natural minerals such as ilmenite, magnetite, garnet, zircon, rutile, and monazite have been discovered on Sonadia Island.
Sonadia is a small island, approximately 9 square kilometres in size, located in the Maheshkhali subdistrict of Cox’s Bazar District, Bangladesh. It is covered with mangroves and forests. The soil here has yielded valuable minerals estimated to be approximately 700,000 tons, with garnet and ilmenite being the most abundant. Experts say that if these minerals can be commercially exploited, they could provide a new impetus to the country’s economy.
Recent research
A research paper on the valuable resources of Sonadia Island was recently published by the Switzerland-based research journal, Discover Geoscience. This research was conducted by four researchers: Mohammad Shakhawat Hussain, Mohammad Shahriar Rahman, Ghulam Taqi, and Maftuha Jahan from the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, Westin University in Australia, and Jahangirnagar University.
What minerals were found on the island?
This research revealed that the island’s sand contains 51.52% garnet and 38.14% ilmenite. Magnetite was also found at 5.74%, zircon at 1.01%, rutile at 3.57%, and monazite at 0.01%. The island’s dunes contain significantly higher concentrations of heavy minerals than other coastal areas.
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Both garnet and ilmenite are in high demand internationally. Garnet is used in industries such as waterjet cutting, polishing, and sandblasting, while ilmenite produces titanium metal, which is used in the aircraft, defense, and space industries.
More research required
However, Dr. Mohammad Aminur Rahman, a scientist at Bangladesh’s Institute of Mining, Mineralogy and Metallurgy (IMMM), says that the 700,000 tons of mineral resources found in Sonadia are very small, and the potential for commercial exploitation can only be determined after further investigation. He explained that research conducted in Cox’s Bazar, Teknaf, Maheshkhali, and Sonadia in the 1980s revealed the presence of 21 million tons of minerals.
Probable revenue of 2,000 crore Taka
According to the Bangladesh Geological Survey Department, the government is now working towards extracting minerals from river sand. They estimate that if even 10% of the river’s sediment is processed each year, it could generate an annual revenue of 2,000 crore taka. Research also found that Sonadia Island’s minerals, including zircon, rutile, and ilmenite, contain high concentrations of key elements. Other minerals, such as amphibole, muscovite, and quartz, are also present.