Economy of Sylhet

Sylhet contains a vast amount of proven natural gas reserve. There are total eight gas fields located in the region. Total reserve of gas fields of the region is about 14 trillion cubit feet. According to Jalalabad Gas System Limited, The company's annual revenue earning is around 5.66 billion.

Surma River Sylhet

Remittance is one of the biggest source behind Sylhetis economic growth. Many Sylhetis that live abroad live in many countries, notably countries in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, etc., France, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Many remittances are sent from the United Kingdom to Sylhet unlike many other countries as the majority, believed to be around 90-95%, of the British Bangladeshi population claim they are from Sylhet. The remittance of financial year 2012–13 is estimated around $10 billion. Numerous projects and businesses in the city and in large towns have been funded by Sylhetis living and working abroad. As of 1986, an estimated 95 percent of the ethnic British Bangladeshis originated from or had ancestors from the Sylhet region.[4] The city receives a significant portion of the country's annual remittances, which have driven growth in real estate and construction.[5] A number of shopping centres, restaurants and hotels have opened as a result.

A luxurious 5 star hotel in Srimongol

Sylhet is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Bangladesh. The province offers tourists with variety of options ranging from natural to commercial. The province is home to some of the most luxurious Hotels, Resorts and Shopping Malls in Bangladesh. Sylhet also relies on religious tourism, with thousands of devotees visiting its Sufi shrines annually, as well as ecotourism in its broader natural hinterland. Nature resorts have been built in the city's outskirts.

A large portion of fishes in Bangladesh comes from rivers and Haor region, among them Hakaluki Haor, Tanguar Haor including many more rivers in Sylhet meet the demand of fishes in this region.

Tanguar haor plays an important role in fish production as it functions as a 'mother fishery' for the country.[6][7] It is the source of livelihood for more than 40,000 people.[6]

Every winter the haor is home to about 200 types of migratory birds. The haor is an important source of fish. In 1999–2000, the government earned 7,073,184 takas as revenue just from fisheries of the haor. There are more than 140 species of fresh water fish in the haor. The more predominant among them are: ayir, gang magur, baim, tara, gutum, gulsha, tengra, titna, garia, beti, kakia etc.[7]

Hakaluki, the largest Hawor in Bangladesh

Malini chora Tea Garden in Sylhet

The area around Sylhet is a traditional tea growing area. The Surma Valley is covered with terraces of tea gardens and tropical forests. Srimangal is known as the tea capital of Bangladesh; for miles around, tea gardens are visible on the hill slopes. As a result, Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI) is an autonomous organisation under the Bangladesh Tea Board (BTB).[8][9][10] have been established here. Today, Bangladesh has 172 commercial tea estates, including many of the world's largest working plantations.[11][12] Among which, Sylhet has over 150 tea gardens, including three of the largest tea plantations in the world, both in terms of area and production. The area Nearly 300,000 workers, of which more than 75% are women, are employed on the tea estates. The industry accounts for 3% of global tea production, and employs more than 4 million people.[13]

Tea is the second largest export oriented cash crop of Bangladesh, following jute. The industry accounts for 1% of national GDP.[14] Including Maulvi Bazar, Habiganj, Sylhet, this area has three Tea-producing districts.