IUB highlights bay of bengal’s economic future and ocean literacy
Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) hosted a public lecture titled "Challenging the Bay of Bengal for Economic Opportunities" on 29 June 2025, marking World Environment Day and focusing on sustainable development, ocean literacy, and policy innovation.
Organised by the Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies (CBoBS) in collaboration with the Department of Global Studies and Governance (GSG) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, the event aimed to enhance ocean awareness and highlight economic opportunities in the Bay of Bengal region.
Vice Chancellor Professor M Tamim delivered the welcome address, while Rear Admiral Md Khurshed Alam (Retd.), The Director of CBoBS and former Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented the keynote.
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Other distinguished speakers included Rear Admiral Dr Khandakar Akhter Hossain, Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh Maritime University; H.E. Marie Masdupuy, Ambassador of France to Bangladesh; and Mr. Didar A Husain, Chairman of the IUB Board of Trustees.
In a powerful introduction to the academic session, Ambassador Tariq A. Karim, Advisor to CBoBS, highlighted the urgent need for policy action to preserve marine ecosystems and combat unsustainable practices.
Academic discussions addressed the seven core principles of ocean literacy, with sessions led by:
- Dr Emadul Islam (Ocean Policy Research Institute, Japan) on plastic pollution,
- Professor Dr Wahidul Alam (University of Chittagong) on biodiversity and human-ocean interdependence,
- Dr K M Azam Chowdhury (University of Dhaka) on the ocean's influence on weather and climate,
- Cdre Sheikh Shahid Ahmed (Bangladesh Maritime University) on oceanic forces shaping the Earth, and
- Zubaida Mannan (Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO) on embedding ocean literacy in national curricula.
Prof. Daniel W. Lund, Pro Vice Chancellor of IUB, concluded with a reflection on grassroots environmental actions, recalling a beachside family collecting plastic waste: "Even though the problem seems enormous, we can each start with little impactful actions."
The event concluded with student-led proposals to enhance ocean literacy in Bangladesh through educational reform, digital media, and community outreach, followed by a Q&A session with participants.
