Even after 43 years, Lamar's 'Cholumjhiri coal mine' has not come under the government's notice.

Coal-like objects were found floating in the grooves and grooves of the stone walls on the two banks of the remote Chaulumjhiri in Rupsipara Union of Lama Upazila of Bandarban.

Coal-like material is scattered in the crevices of the steep hills and in the streams. Looks like prepared coal, heavier in weight and burns better. Coal-like objects have been found in the grooves of the stone walls on both banks of the inaccessible Chaulumjhiri in Rupsipara Union of Lama Upazila of Bandarban. This place of Chaulumjhiri is known as 'coal mine' by the local people due to the top part of the hill covered with sandy loam soil and because of the roasted coal like material in the hill.

Although this coal mine was discovered 43 years ago, the relevant authorities of the government have not yet noticed it. A vast area of ​​natural resource potential in the hills has been carelessly neglected. No renovation or conservation activities have been undertaken. The mine is located 15 km east of the upazila Sadar in Ward No. 8 Chaulumjhiri of Rupsipara Union. This 15 km distance has been 13 km carpeting and bricklaying road from Lama Bazar to Mongpru Para in the east. The distance of the mine from Mangprupara is only 2 km. The economy of the district will change if coal is extracted from the mine under government initiative. The upazila residents have demanded that BAPEX and the Ministry of Power, Energy and Minerals take practical initiatives to extract coal from this mine.

It is known that around 1981-82, when the local Kathuria went to collect wood, bamboo and wood, they saw the coal mine in Chaulumjhiri. Rivers, streams, streams and canals are one of the means of communication in hilly areas. And if you go through the river, you can see floating coals on both sides of Chaulumjhiri. The existence of this coal is found in an area of ​​about two miles. Many locals are collecting this coal and using it as fuel.

Former UP member Abdul Mannan said his place is next to a coal mine. Around 1984, during the rule of Ershad government, responsible officials of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources came to visit this coal mine. During the inspection, the officials mentioned that the quality of floating coal of this mine is very good and of national standard. Mensing Mro, a shopkeeper of Cholumjhiri's Mro neighborhood and Chungnak Mro, a senior resident of the neighborhood, said that sometimes the smell of hot coal can be found from the Jhiri water. Even a few years ago there was a large quantity of such stones in the 'coal hills' and streams. The coal-like stone has now been reduced by the removal of outsiders. They think that there may be coal mines in a large area of ​​Cholumjhiri. If there were no mines inside the soil, the smell of coal would not have been found in the water of Jhiri.

Recently visited there, on the south side of Chowlumpara, a small mountain range surrounded by forest is seen on both sides of the steep hill like a wall. Coal-like objects have been seen in the rocks and streams of that steep hill. Coal-like material buried in rock folds is black and some parts look like fossils.

Zahedul Master, a resident of Cholumjhiri coal mining area, said that in July 2013 and September 2018, BAPEX officials of the oil and gas exploration company visited the mine. Bapex officials assured the residents that they will report the matter to the concerned department. But today nothing has been done. UP member Longna Mro said the coal mine is still protected. Moreover, the place is small. They are maintaining the mine with Mauza headman and shopkeepers. If coal is extracted from this mine under government initiative, it will play a special role in the national economy.

Upazila Executive Officer Kamrul Hossain Chowdhury said that he will try to bring the issue of mining to the attention of the concerned department. If coal is extracted from this mine, the coal mine could be one of the sources for the nearby Maheshkhali coal-fired power plant. In addition, BAPEX will be contacted again about the presence of coal-like material.