Speakers at a discussion have said that there is a huge potential of maritime resources in the Bay of Bengal and proper utilisation of the resources is necessary for the overall development of the country.

They also said that the marine resources can be used properly through introducing a separate ministry for maritime affairs. If Bangladesh can ensure the proper use of the marine resources, the country will be able to take advantage of the Blue Economy.

Save Our Sea (SOS), a platform of marine conservationists who work for protecting marine environment, arranged the discussion titled ‘Public Connectivity in Achieving Blue Economy’ at the auditorium of Stamford University in the capital on Wednesday (June 8, on the occasion of the World Oceans Day-2022.

The day was observed in Bangladesh as elsewhere across the world with the call to collect and develop the vast marine resources through adopting collective action. The theme of the day this year is ‘Revitalization: collective action for the ocean’.

Alongside the Save Our Sea, some other organisations on environment and maritime affairs observed the day amid various programmes.

Director of Save Our Sea SM Atiqur Rahman chaired the discussion of the SOS, while Secretary General of the organisation Muhammad Anowarul Hoque moderated the event. Chairman of Oceanology Dept of Chittagong University Dr Mohammad Muslem Uddin Munna, former Chairperson of Zoology Dept of Dhaka University Prof Dr Gulshan Ara Latfia and Joint Secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan (BAPA) Prof Dr Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder took part in the discussion, among others.

The speakers said that Bangladesh is a country with great potential in the field of blue economy. The maritime affairs ministry should be introduced to boost the blue economy and also to protect and use the resources in sea and marine borders.

The speakers called for united efforts and appropriate utilisation of maritime resources for the economic development of the country.