State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam has proposed to establish a separate ministry for the blue economy or a separate division under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
He emphasized the contribution of the blue economy to Bangladesh’s future sustainable development endeavors.
While speaking as the chief guest at a seminar, the state minister emphasized two specific issues for sustainable development and proper utilization of the blue economy – resource exploration and resource exploitation.
He also highlighted the importance of knowledge mobilization and conducting research on the subject matter.
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organized the hybrid seminar on “Blue Economy and Maritime Security: Bangladesh Perspective” on Thursday.
Rear Admiral (Retd) Md Khurshed Alam, secretary of Maritime Affairs Unit of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended the seminar as a special guest.
BIISS Chairman Kazi Imtiaz Hossain chaired the inaugural session while its Director Gen Maj General Mohammad Maksudur Rahman delivered the welcome remarks.
The BIISS DG emphasized creating a blue economy belt to utilize the huge untapped resources of the vast area of the sea.
Kazi Imtiaz Hossain stressed ensuring maritime security and harnessing the potential of the blue economy.
Secretary Khurshed Alam highlighted the potential of marine resources in the country’s economy along with some of the challenges.
In the working session, four presentations were made. Dr Abul Kalam Azad, professor of International Relations of Jahangirnagar University, made a presentation on “Blue Economy and Ocean Governance: Bangladesh Perspective”.
A presentation titled “Maritime Security and Strategy in the Bay of Bengal” was made by Prof Dr Delwar Hossain, of the Department of International Relations of University of Dhaka and member of Bangladesh Public Service Commission.
Moutusi Islam, BIISS research fellow, made a presentation on “Nexus between Maritime Security and Blue Economy: Implications for Bangladesh in Post-Covid Era”.
A presentation titled “Bangladesh’s Economic Prospect in the Bay of Bengal” was made by Dr Mahfuz Kabir, BIISS research director.
The working session was chaired by Ambassador M Humayun Kabir, president of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI).
Senior officials from different ministries, ambassadors and high commissioners, senior civil and military officials, media, academia, think tanks, business personalities, students and teachers from different universities participated in the open session.
They stressed the importance of the blue economy and marine resources to the country’s economy and future development endeavors.
They also highlighted different issues of maritime security in the context of Bangladesh.