Work on the country’s only oceanographic research institute is going on in full swing at Ramu in the Cox’s Bazar district. The project is expected to be completed in the next six months, officials say.
The National Oceanographic Research Institute will help researchers study and enrich their knowledge on marine life and geography, while a planned marine fish aquarium will attract tourists and earn revenue for the coastal district, they said.
“The institute will change the whole scenario of the district,” said Md Ruhul Amin, deputy commissioner of Cox's Bazar.
The housing and public works ministry, under the supervision of the science ministry, started work on the project two years ago. The institute complex is being built on nearly 6 hectares of land in the district’s Pechardip area under the Khunia Palong union.
So far, 70% of the construction work has been completed, and it is expected to be finished in six months’ time – two years ahead of schedule, Md Monirul Islam, executive engineer of the Cox’s Bazar public works division, said.
The project cost was initially estimated at Tk8.6bn, but it was brought down to Tk1bn and approved by the government last Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a separate budget of Tk3bn has been earmarked for the aquarium, which is likely to be a key tourist attraction.
However, Monirul Islam said the amount was insufficient for building a modern marine aquarium, which would cost around Tk6bn to Tk7bn.