Prime Minister Tariq Rahman has instructed the Ministry of Education to initiate the establishment of a specialized higher education institution named the “University of Blue Economy Sciences and Technology” (UBEST) in Cox’s Bazar. The directive aims to fully leverage Bangladesh’s rich marine resources and the economic potential of the Bay of Bengal. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed confirmed the decision via a statement on his verified Facebook page on Monday afternoon (September 14, 2026).
The Prime Minister’s decision follows the review of a Demi-Official (DO) letter submitted by the Home Minister on September 13. To expedite the commencement of academic and practical operations, the letter recommended utilizing the existing infrastructure, state-of-the-art laboratories, and research facilities of the Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (BORI) in Cox’s Bazar as the primary foundation for the new university.
Under the proposed framework, utilizing BORI’s established research environment, specialized equipment, and scientific manpower will allow UBEST to launch undergraduate and research programs without waiting for new infrastructure development. Academic focus areas will include Oceanography, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Marine Environmental Technology, Coastal Resource Management, Blue Economy Logistics, Marine Data Science, and Marine Tourism & Hospitality. The government anticipates that this initiative will optimize national research infrastructure while serving as a primary driver for developing skilled human capital tailored to a sustainable blue economy.
