Extensive research needed to unlock potentials of blue economy: Mannan

Planning Minister MA Mannan on Thursday said Bangladesh can collect more resources from the sea conducting a good number of researches on the blue economy that would help to flourish the country's economy. 

“Only establishing ministry on Bay of Bengal affairs is not the lone way of eliminating all problems over the blue economy. It needed more work on it. Especially it is necessary to conduct more research on the blue economy. Bangladesh can collect more resources from the sea through conducting more research,” the Minister said while addressing at a round table in Dhaka titled, "Blue Economy: Prospects and Challenges."

Save our Sea the lone organisation working over the ecology of the sea in Bangladesh organised the programme in the National Press Club in the capital. Fazitas and Lulu Shop patronised the programme.

Professor Dr Muhammad Moslmem Uddin Munna, Chairman of the Oceanography Department of Chittagong University, presented the main script on the programme.

Professor Dr Jashim Uddin, of Botanical Department of Dhaka University, Professor Dr Santosh Kumar Dev, Chairman of Tourism and Hospitality department of Dhaka University and Dr KM Azam Chowdhury, Associate Professor of the Oceanography Department of Dhaka University gave speech as special guests.

Muhammad Anowarul Haque, Secretary-General of Save Our Sea, moderated the programme.

Commodore Wahid Hasan Kutubuddin (NDC), Head of the Department of Maritime Development and Strategic Studies of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Maritime University, Dr Marium Akhter, Assistant Chief Forest Conservator of Bangladesh Forest Department, and M Nuruzzaman, Deputy Director (Operations) of Bangladesh Coast Guard were given speech as honourable guests.

Marine Explorer SM Atiqur Rahman, Director of Save Our Sea, Mohammad Ejaj, Chairman of River and Delta Research Center and Sumon Shams, President of Nongor, were present among others.

Planning Minister said, Sundarbans was once expanded till Coxsbazar but now it becomes smaller for keeping it unplanned and careless.

The Minister said, “We want to assure you that we are very keen to realise the matter which the Save Our Sea has shown about the blue economy and environment of the sea.”

“We will do much work about the blue economy. Our government will assist those who want to work on the blue economy,” the Minister said.

He said, “Our Prime Minister has wide spread eagerness. She thinks almost about everything. The present government has worked many more than the past governments. Our Prime Minister wants to do more work.”

The Minister said that the Prime Minister is keen to let the children know about every resource of the country like the sea.

Professor Dr Muhammad Moslmem Uddin Munna said the economy of the sea would be the future economy. But there were several problems here including adequate initiatives.

Many potentials of the sea are yet to be out of touch due to a lack of know-how about the matter.

He said, several initiatives have taken on the name of the blue economy but most of those conducted without preventing ecology and biodiversity.

Professor Dr Jashim Uddin said, there are lots of prospects in the sea including tidal energy, minerals and fish.

He has empahsised to protect the sea from plastic and other pollution.

Commodore Wahid Hasan Kutubuddin stressed on coordination on work on sea resources.