The encroaching salt-laden tides of Bangladesh’s coastal belt have waged a silent, corrosive war against the dreams of its people, turning sturdy foundations into crumbling relics of decay for decades. In these regions, where salinity and sulphate-rich groundwater ruthlessly compromise the structural integrity of every construction, building a lasting home has felt like a losing battle against nature itself. However, the tide is finally turning. LafargeHolcim Bangladesh PLC (LHB) has stepped onto the front lines of this environmental crisis with the unveiling of Holcim Coastal Guard, a revolutionary product engineered specifically to defy coastal decay. This isn’t just a new product launch; it is a definitive answer to a longstanding struggle, promising to fortify the coastal landscape with resilience, a press release said.
Holcim Coastal Guard a salinity and sulphate resistant cement, has been developed through the company’s in-house product innovation and manufacturing capabilities in collaboration with the Innovation Center of Holcim Group at Lyon, France by leveraging Holcim Group‘s Smart Blend Technology. Holcim Coastal Gurad is specially engineered to combat, rapid deterioration of the structure exposed to harsh sulphate & chloride rich soils, groundwater in coastal environment, chemical attack in water/ effluent treatment plants ensuring longer-lasting, more resilient structures.
Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque, Commercial and Logistics Director, LHB unveiled the Holcim Coastal Guard at a city hotel in Khulna recently. Dr. Raquib Ahsan, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, BUET was present as a special guest during the unveiling.
Speaking on the occassion Hoque said “We are delighted to introduce one of our most innovative product Holcim Coastal Guard for our customers in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. This product has been developed through continuous consumer engagement, research and thorough understanding of the saline and suphate impact on structures. We believe that Holcim Coastal Guard shall help our customers to build their dream homes that remain resilient against the harshest environmental challenges, providing unmatched protection against coastal erosion and decay.”
Biplob Shadhu owner of Babul Enterprise a veteran building materials trader with over 20 years of industry experience said “Having been in the cement business for over twenty years, I have seen countless homeowners and builders watch their investments crumble under the relentless pressure of salt and sulphate. For two decades, my customers have come to me with the same desperate question: ‘How can we stop the salinity from eating away our walls?’ To my frustration, I never had a truly definitive answer or a specialized solution until now. With the launch of Holcim Coastal Guard, I finally have the ultimate product to offer them. This is the product we have been waiting for; it doesn’t just solve a problem, it provides peace of mind. I believe this will fundamentally change the landscape of our infrastructure industry in the years to come.”
A technical seminar was organized during the unveiling of Holcim Coastal Guard where Dr. Raquib Ahsan presented the key note higlighlighting the need of specialized cement solution for sustainable construction in the coastal areas. Fakhruddin Md. Khan, Head of Innovation and Technical Services, LHB shared how Holcim Coastal Guard offers superior technical advantages against the sulphate and saline environment in the coastal areas. Dr. Md. Habibur Rahman Sabuz, Head of Department, BECM, KUET and Ar. S. M. Nazimuddin Payel, Associate Professor, Khulna University also participated at the panel discussion. The launching event concluded with vote of thanks from Mohammad Kali, Regional Sales Manager, LHB.
More than 160 enginers, architects, academicians and industry professionals were present during the unveiling ceremony.
