The Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (BORI) is the nation’s first and only national institution dedicated to oceanographic research. Situated in the Jangal Goyalialapalong area of Ramu, Cox’s Bazar, this government entity operates under the Ministry of Science and Technology, providing critical research, management, and advisory support on marine affairs.
Established in 2015, the institute aims to advance marine research, implement findings, and oversee all oceanography-related activities.
Under a Ministry of Science and Technology development project, BORI developed its expansive campus, covering 40.62 acres near the Marine Drive and Rezu Khal in Cox’s Bazar, for Tk102.80 crore.
The facility has five state-of-the-art research laboratories, an oceanographic data center, a seminar hall with audiovisual features, training classrooms, a medical center, visiting scientist dormitories, a rest house, and residential quarters. It also includes community spaces such as a school-cum-community building, a club, and an Ansar barrack.
BORI conducts extensive studies across several domains: physical, geological, chemical, and biological oceanography, as well as research on climate change and marine ecosystems.
The institute also focuses on creating skilled manpower in ocean sciences, training stakeholders, and supporting biotechnological research in collaboration with universities and other institutions.
Its Oceanographic Data Center collects, preserves, and disseminates vital research data while addressing issues like oil spill risk assessment.
The institute’s initial research focuses on the eastern Bay of Bengal, including identifying marine resources, collecting baseline data on aquatic ecosystems, mapping minerals in coastal sands, and identifying seaweed and coral species on Saint Martin’s Island.
It also focuses on assessing the state of microplastics and marine litter along the coast, studying ocean stratification, upwelling phenomena, ocean acidification monitoring, measuring blue carbon, and collecting water quality data.
As a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s blue economy, BORI is crucial in exploring marine resources, ensuring sustainable practices, and contributing to the nation’s economic and environmental goals.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Courtesy
