Moheshkhali Upazila

Moheshkhali
মহেশখালী
From top: Adinath Buddhist Temple, Ananda Myitta Buddha Temple, Maheshkhali Bridge, Mangrove Island, Maheshkhali Hill Dried fish Village, Fish boats
Location of Moheshkhali
Coordinates: 21°33′N 91°57′E / 21.550°N 91.950°E / 21.550; 91.950
CountryBangladesh
DivisionChittagong
DistrictCox's Bazar
Area
 • Total362.18 km2 (139.84 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total321,218
 • Density890/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+6 (BST)
WebsiteOfficial Map of Maheshkhali

Moheshkhali (Bengali: মহেশখালী) is an upazila of Cox's Bazar District[1] in the Division of Chittagong, Bangladesh.

The government's ambitious project to transform Maheshkhali Island in the Bay of Bengal into a thriving energy hub aims to establish power plants and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal by 2027. This endeavor is driven by the objective of strengthening the country's economy and achieving self-reliance in the power and fuel sector. As a result of this initiative, the country's energy crisis will improve significantly, and the socio-economic landscape of the region will become more sustainable.

To support this transformation, the government is constructing substantial oil storage infrastructure at Kalamarchara in Maheshkhali as part of the Single Point Mooring (SPM) project. This pipeline system will not only save time but also reduce expenses by approximately TK 800 crore annually. The Maheshkhali terminal will be equipped with six storage tanks, three for diesel and three for crude oil, allowing for storage capacities of approximately 115,000 tonnes of crude oil and 75,000 tonnes of diesel. This strategic storage capability will further bolster the country's energy security and reinforce its position as a robust energy hub in the region.[2] According to the Maheshkhali Upazila Nirbahi, the Single Point Mooring (SPM) project holds paramount importance to the prime minister. The successful execution of this project is expected to generate employment opportunities for the local population, leading to the eradication of unemployment in this region.[3]

  1. ^ Mohammad Jasim Uddin (2012), "Maheshkhali Upazila", in Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.), Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.), Asiatic Society of Bangladesh
  2. ^ "Maheshkhali island to become energy mega hub". www.dhakatribune.com. 2023-07-23. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  3. ^ "Maheshkhali island to become energy mega hub". www.dhakatribune.com. 2023-07-23. Retrieved 2023-07-26.