Swarna Dwip offers a glimpse into ‘prosperous Bangladesh’

‘Swarna Dwip’, an island in the Bay of Bengal that once served as a paradise for robbers and pirates is now not only a training ground for the Bangladesh Army but also offers a glimpse of how a prosperous Bangladesh may look like.

From Jahaijjar Char to Swarna Dwip: A shoal transforms into a military training ground

The 370-square-kilometre land is now thriving with multiple development projects of the government on dairy farming, fishing, vegetation and forestation.

Under the supervision of the army, the land is far from the reach of thieves and criminals but unlike other parts of the country, it is a safe haven for different species of birds and buffaloes.

The army’s 33rd Infantry Division from Comilla Cantonment is now in command of the island, located nearly six kilometres into the sea from Subarnachar’s Katakhal in Noakhali, while the Comilla Area Command oversees the whole operation.

One of the coordinating officers, Major Morshedul Azad said there were five large-size lakes and numerous ponds in the island with an abundance of fish.

“A coconut orchard is being developed for which 1,500 saplings of coconut trees have been imported from Vietnam. Other vegetables are also grown there. Dead animals and wastes are buried in the ground to avoid pollution,” he said.

There are more than 200 buffaloes, 300 sheep and 1,200 hens, ducks and pigeons in the dairy farms, said Major Saidur Rahman, who was also in charge of supervising the projects.

“We have set up cheese factories. These factories produce 100 kilograms of cheese on average per day from buffalo milk,” said Maj Rahman.

The fish, meat, milk, eggs and cheese produced at Swarna Dwip Military Dairy Farm meets the demand for protein of the locals and the surplus is taken to the cantonments in Chittagong and Comilla, said the officials.

Ten acres of land are now in use to cultivate Hira-2 paddy and 60 farmers have secured part-time employment in the process. Deep tube-wells have been set up to irrigate the land.

The land has produced 302 mounds of paddy even in adverse weather conditions, added Maj Rahman.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests have so far set up two multipurpose cyclone centres at a cost of Tk 70 million while three more are under way, he added.

A Tk 1.6 million protect has brought an area of 116 hectares under forestation which now plays a pivotal role in preventing environmental disasters, said Major Azad.

“A total of 2,000 seeds of Keora and 60,000 seeds of Paban Jhau trees have been sown by spraying them from a helicopter over the south and southeast zone,” he said adding that 35 villages have also been designed.

Already 4,379 families are earning their livelihoods through the projects here.

Environment and Forests Minister Anwar Hossain Monju came visited the island on Tuesday and told journalists that the zone was a dream come true for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“She regularly gets updates on the Swarna Dwip. With her support and the efforts of the army, it will soon become another prosperous Bangladesh,” he added.