PM for exploring marine resources maintaining friendly ties with neighbours
The marine resources can contribute immensely to the advancement of national economy, she says
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina On Thursday stressed extracting marine resources from Bangladesh's vast maritime zones maintaining friendly relations with the neighbouring countries to tap potential of the "Blue Economy" for the country's socio-economic advancement.
"We have to explore the marine resources from the maritime areas we have achieved. I believe the announcement of the blue economy will be implemented. We have to use the vast marine resources for the socio-economic development of Bangladesh" she said.
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The premier made the remarks at a function marking the golden jubilee of enacting the law titled "The Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act, 1974" at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.
"We will have to be cautious in extracting our marine resources and in continuing business and trade using seaways maintaining our foreign policy – Friendship to all, malice to none," PM Hasina said.
She also urged the overseas companies to come up with investment to explore oil and gas resources in Bangladesh's maritime zones.
"We will never engage in war. But, we have to have capability to protect our sovereignty"
Sheikh Hasina said conflicting situations are being seen in many areas across the globe. But there is no conflict in the region, she said.
"This zone is very safe as there is no mess with each other here," she added.
The PM said the Bay of Bengal is a part of the Indian Ocean and it is a very important marine way as international business and trade have been continuing using this way since ancient times.
She expressed her hope that the Bay of Bengal seaway will remain peaceful for trade and commerce in the days to come.
The prime minister reiterated that Bangladesh always believes in peace, adding, "We don't want war rather we want peace. Peace shows the path of development and progress and helps the nation march forward".
She said, "We will never engage in war. But, we have to have the capability to protect our sovereignty."
The marine resources can contribute immensely to the advancement of the national economy, the PM said.
She said her government has been working to make the Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard stronger to foster their ability to secure the vast marine areas.
She continued they have already established an institute to conduct research to ensure maximum use of the marine resources.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has established Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Marine University and Marine Institute to develop skilled manpower which is required to boost the blue economy.
The prime minister said Bangladesh had established its rights on the vast marine areas and its resources by winning legal battles with Myanmar and India in the international court in 2012 and 2014.
She said Bangabandhu had first taken the initiative to establish rights on marine areas by enacting the maritime law in 1974 which the United Nations adopted in 1982.
"The Father of the Nation with his wisdom had opened the path of prosperity using the marine resources by enacting the laws for the country's overall socio-economic development," she said.
She also said the subsequent governments after the 1975 plot did not take any initiative to establish the rights on the vast sea areas.
The premier said the AL government had again taken initiative upon assuming office in 1996 after a long 21 years, adding that the initiative did not attain success as the Awami League did not come to power in 2001.
No initiative was taken by the BNP government after assuming power in 2001, she said.
"But, after coming to power for a second time, the AL government had taken measures to this end and established rights on vast sea areas and its resources," she added.
