Bangladesh Research
Background
Sand and gravel are two highly sought-after raw materials in the global market. Coarse sand dredged from rivers is used in semiconductor and glass manufacturing. Finer sand is in high demand for wetland reclamation, which is important for expanding infrastructure in areas affected by climate change. Gravel is a crucial material for both concrete and asphalt production. Flowing from the Himalayas into the Gangetic Plain, the Brahmaputra deposits coarse silt and gravel directly into the Bengal Basin.
A bustling sand and gravel industry has sprung up along the Bangladesh–India border, primarily concentrated in the province of Sylhet. In 2022, I joined Professor James Best and PhD student Sadiul Chyon to investigate the issue. Our preliminary work involved reviewing existing literature on the topic and analyzing PlanetScope imagery to identify key sites. Major extraction occurs at locations such as Shada Pathor, Bisnakandi, Jaflong, and Lovachara. After extraction, the materials are transported by boat to the Surma River and then shipped to sand markets in Dhaka.
Professor James Best and PhD student Sadiul Chyon were set to travel to Bangladesh to continue their investigation. I received the Roepke Scholarship to accompany them.
Detour
To get to Bangladesh, you have to take a layover in the Middle East. The most common destinations are Doha or Dubai. However, the cheapest ticket I found was through Istanbul—the only drawback was a layover of more than 12 hours overnight. Naturally, I took the opportunity to explore the city.
Sylhet & Dhaka
Video of sand/gravel extraction across various sites in Bangladesh
We traveled through the border regions of Sylhet, conducting interviews and human GIS research to gather detailed data on prices, working conditions, and transport logistics. From there, we traced the movement of these materials to the eastern districts of Dhaka—Purbachal and Bashundhara. In these areas, sand was being dumped onto rural farmland to force farmers out and make way for new development. I piloted Saadi’s drone and edited the footage capturing the full journey from extraction to dumping.0 Using the information gathered, I was able to estimate the total volume of sand and gravel extracted. This formed the basis of my senior thesis, for which I received the James D. Fellmann Award.