Aluminium  one of the lightest of metals (specific gravity 2.705). It is silver white in colour, free from rust, strong, durable, malleable, ductile, possesses heat and electrical conductivity and is resistant to atmospheric corrosion. These qualities have made aluminium one of the most useful metals.

Aluminium is the third most malleable and sixth most ductile of the metals. Bauxite is its principal commercial source. It is a secondary mineral derived by the chemical decomposition of such aluminium bearing rocks as granite, syenite, diorite and gneiss under tropical or sub-tropical conditions. Clayey rocks are also changed into bauxite when similarly affected. Other commonly known aluminous minerals are corundum, diaspore, gibbsite and cryolite. Andalusite, sillimanite, kyanite and clay are also aluminous silicates. Bauxite of good quality has been discovered in different parts of India, including Bihar and Orissa. The Bihar deposits are estimated at about 10 million ton and the Orissa deposits at about 0.5 million ton.

Bauxite has not yet been found in Bangladesh, although at Madhyapara in dinajpur district such aluminium bearing rocks as granite and gneiss lie within 122m to 152m below the surface in a sizeable area. However nowadays, imported aluminium is extensively used in Bangladesh for electrical transmission and distribution, for making utensils and household appliances, carrying and packaging (also as aluminium foil) and in transportation. Production of aluminium plates in and around Bangladesh started in 1912.

Most of the aluminium production activities are now concentrated at kaliakair upazila in gazipur district and panchlaish thana in chittagong district. Some Thai-Bangladesh joint ventures in this industry started operations in 1978.

At present Bangladesh-Thai Aluminium, Karim Aluminium Industries, Dhaka-Thai Aluminium, and the Fuwang Group make most of the country's aluminium products. These enterprises fabricate numerous aluminium products including doors, windows and curtain-glazing. They make doors and windows for almost all high-rise buildings in ­ Bangladesh. Currently, about 95% of the imported aluminium is being used by these industries. Aluminium is also being used for making a wide variety of handicrafts. Alloyed with small quantities of copper, silicon, magnesium, nickel and zinc, aluminium becomes a strong metal with a variety of uses. [Sifatul Quader Chowdhury]