Poribesh Bachao Andolan (Poba), a private environmental organisation, yesterday urged the government to form a high-power “Marine Commission” under the prime minister’s office to protect, maintain and develop resources inside the country’s maritime zones.
Urging the government to formulate a vision on maritime issues for up to 2050, they also recommended fast formulation of rules and regulations to preserve huge resources acquired in maritime areas in recent times.
The proposals were made at a press conference, titled “Activity on Bangladesh Marine Resource Management,” organised by Poba at its head office in the capital.
The environmental organisation also forwarded a 13-point recommendation regarding the issue.
Poba General Secretary Abdus Sobhan presented the key notepaper at the press conference.
“A multipurpose plan is needed for sustainable protection of marine zone and its environment and ministries and departments concerned should immediately to run a survey to find out the resources available in the country’s marine zone,” he added.
Sobhan claimed that in 1974, the then government had talks with India and Myanmar over forming a territorial sea.
“Later, the government also enacted the ‘Territorial Waters and Maritime Zone Act,’ where 12 nautical miles were marked as Bangladesh’s territorial sea and 200 nautical miles as an exclusive economic zone.”
“At last, we have won two cases against Myanmar and India on marine zone conflicts,” he added.
Urging the government to take initiatives to recover resources associated with foreign and domestic companies, he also added: “However, the government should also be careful of the country’s interests while recovering the resources with foreign companies.”
Other speakers at the conference urged the government to amend the 1974 Maritime Zone Act and update it based on present regional aspects and perception.