About Us

Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (BORI) is the first and only national research institution on marine science in Bangladesh, which will be able to play an important role in ensuring the development of Blue Economy. After winning the maritime boundary settlement case with Myanmar on March 14, 2012 and India on July 7, 2014, Bangladesh achieved sovereign rights to a total of 1,81,813 square kilometers of sea area, 200 nautical miles of exclusive economic zone, and all types of living and non-living ocean resources. If Bangladesh can ensure the sustainable use of the ocean resources, then the economy of Bangladesh will progress faster. The potential for setting up an international level ocean research institution, development of integrated coastal zone management, mining of mineral resources, and proper utilization of ocean resources including development of tourism and mariculture have increased the interest of the international community towards the Blue Economy in Bangladesh.

The prospect of this newly developed sector is unlimited. For this reason, BORI will be able to play an important role in oceanographic research and create skilled manpower. The organization will work to conduct all the activities as a focal point of Bangladesh at national and international levels in the field of oceanography. Besides conducting its own research, BORI will assist in the research work of other local or foreign organizations, colleges and universities as well.

The Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman initiated the establishment of ocean research institute in 1973 with the aim to enrich the country's economy and reducing poverty through exploring, exploiting and conserving valuable resources of the Bay of Bengal. But after the brutal and tragic killing of Bangabandhu in 1975, that initiative totally stops. In 1996, Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina constituted a Review Committee for the establishment of National Institute of Ocean Science. After receiving the recommendation of the review committee, the decision of establishing the National Oceanographic Research Institute was acceptedin 2000. In order to ensure proper utilization of marine resources, a project under the Ministry of Science and Technology was adopted in the period from June 2000 to July 2005 for the establishment of National Oceanographic Research Institute (1st Phase). After a long time in 2009, the visible progress of the establishment of National Oceanographic Research Institute (NORI) was achieved through the intensive initiative of Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. When presenting the proposal for establishing the institute on 4 acres of land in the ECNEC meeting on 02/07/2009, Honorable Prime Minister extended the amount of land to 40 acres instead of 4 acres. She also ordered to redesign and represent the project including laboratory, residential building, club building, playground, school buildingand marine aquarium with international quality. Acquisition of 40 acresof land in Jungle Goalia Palang Mouza of Khunia Palang Union of Ramu Upazila of Cox's Bazar district was completed in 2010. The establishment project was implemented at a cost of Taka 102.80 crore. Under the heading of "National Oceanographic Research Institute Establishment Project (NORIP) (1st phase) (2nd Revised)" has been constructedwith 13 buildings including 3-storey Institute building with laboratory, 5-storey 3 officer quarters & 2 staff quarters, 1 Director General's Bungalow, 2-storey 1 OfficerDormitory & 1 staff Dormitory, 3-storey 1 Club Building & 1 Rest House, 5-storey 1 security personnel building, and 2-storey 1 school-cumMedical Centre.Initially BORI has been purchased about 1096 nos. of scientific instruments for oceanographic research. For the implementation of the overall function of the project, 14 officials were working including 1 senior scientific officer, 3 scientific officers, 1 administrative officer and other employees. In addition, under the project, there was 1 platoon Ansar & VDP members for the safety of the Institute and 8 daily-basis manpower to keep the Institute premises neat and clean.