By Md Aynal Haque

KHULNA, Dec 20, 2024 (BSS)- Prospect of environment-friendly development in Khulna is very bright as it has all geographic diversities and natural resources, including the Sundarbans, one of the world heritages.

Safe extraction of natural resources from the Sundarbans, setting up connectivity of Mongla port with Nepal and Bhutan, revival of newsprint, 
hardboard and jute mills and gas connection can be the crucial means of materializing the existing prospects.

All the development plans should be taken to maintain environmental rules and keeping the safety of the Sundarbans in mind.

Talking to BSS, Muhammad Monir Hossain, former president of Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), said the Khulna region has two special features- the Mongla seaport and Benapole landport.

But there is an urgent need of connectivity of Mongla port with Nepal and Bhutan together with making the road from Khulna to Jashore upto the mark to the best use of the special features.

The chamber leader said construction of an airport in Khulna has become indispensable as Jashore Airport, the only airport in the area, is very 
small. There is only one EPZ in the region and the implementation process of establishing two proposed specialised economic zones should be expedited.

He also opined that all the development projects must be environment-friendly.

Referring to the existing environmental aspects, journalist and environment activist Gouranga Nandi said once upon a time the area was famous for producing a lot of frozen products, but the situation is gradually declining.

There is also no gas connection in this area. The very existence of the Sundarbans, a unique ecosystem located in this region, is under threat as a number of industries have developed in its surrounding areas. The amount of salinity in the water is also increasing.

Giving focus on the issue, he said the region has all the natural resources required for economic development.

One of the two river ports of Bangladesh is in Khulna, but more infrastructural developments are needed to seize the opportunity of this 
port.

There is no way but to revive the news print industry, jute mills, hardboard mills, textile mills coupled with inclining the export of frozen shrimp for economic progress of Khulna.

The Padma Bridge has been opened which definitely increases economic activities in this region. 

Journo Nandi said the region still has a low labour cost which will be helpful for establishing factories here again. Time has come to consider 
restarting the closed factories now. The government can acquire a lot of abandoned land here to use for economic activities.

Professor Abdullah Harun Chowdhury from the Department of Environmental Science at Khulna University (KU), the region is rich in natural resources including the Sundarbans, the only mangrove forest in the world. It has also huge potential for industry and economic development.
 
Previously, water was available in tubewells 850 feet to 900 feet below the ground level, which has dropped to below 1,300 feet.
 
The ponds in the city are being used for dumping garbage. However, by retaining rainwater in these ponds, bathing and other activities of the 
people of the city could be done for the whole year. Besides, the ponds would also reduce the temperature of the city.
 
Professor Harun Chowdhury said the region needs long-term industrialisation in an environmentally friendly way. Factories must have a modern waste management system. Citizens in the vicinity should also be aware of this. 

Industrialist Faruque Hossain said the Khulna has a lot of economic potential with Mongla port, Benapole and Bhomra land ports. The potential for industrialisation of Khulna is huge.

If Nepal and Bhutan were connected with the Mongla port, the region would be transformed into an industrial city and the geo-economic importance would increase.

The biggest resource of Khulna region is the Sundarbans. There is an urgent need to build a tourist city centring on this which is a long-standing demand of the region.
 
The construction of the proposed Khan Jahan Ali Airport should be started in full swing. 

Highlighting the existing economic potentialities Advocate Saila Sultana, local unit president of Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said there are many possibilities for women to become entrepreneurs. They can work with the waste materials of different products such as rice, jute, fishes and betel nuts. They can also make buttons with coconut shells, plates and furniture from betel nut shells.

Apart from this, women can be economically self-reliant if proper training will be given to them in this regard.