CHITTAGONG, Nov 6 (BSS): Experts have primarily projected a possible deposit of coal in the hilly areas of Patiya and Chandanaish suggesting immediate exploration of the resources.

The experts of Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX) told the news agency that there was every possibility that there was existence of coal along the five kilometres hilly stretch in the eastern side of Patiya and Chandanaish.

The sources said coal, which was in the form of rocky soil structure, had been detected in the early seventies in these hilly areas. It had turned into coal during the last four decades.

Manager (Geology) of BAPEX Alamgir Hossain told the agency that there was no doubt about the existence of coal in those hilly areas of the district.

But the total quantity as well as quality of coal could not be ascertained without proper exploration, he added.

BAPEX would seek permission from Petrobangla for conducting laboratory experiments about the coal deposits in the hilly areas to become fully assured in this regard.

Mohammad Ali, chairman of Hashimpur Union Parishad under Chandanish, said a survey was carried out in the area by the initiative of the Ministry of Mineral Resources in 1972-73, just after the War of Liberation.

Professor Abdul Haque of the Department of Geography and Environment of Chittagong University said proper initiative should be taken for extracting the coal after conducting a fresh survey in the area with a view to easing the existing fuel crisis in the country.