Bangladesh’s economic development faces a significant challenge due to a lack of mineral resources. Although the country’s first oil well was established near Sylhet in 1986, marketable quantities of petroleum have not been discovered. Natural gas, mainly found in the Comilla and Sylhet areas, is primarily used in fertilizer production and thermal power generation. The discovery of some coal deposits in northwestern Bangladesh, particularly in the Rajshahi area, has been made, but they are located at relatively inaccessible depths. Additionally, there are smaller deposits of coal in northwestern Sylhet. 

Bangladesh’s manufacturing industry has undergone significant advancements, contributing significantly to the country’s economic growth. Despite the lack of mineral resources, Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in various sectors of manufacturing.