Fisheries and Livestock Minister Md. Abdur Rahman has called for ensuring proper use of marine resources to build a modern, advanced, talented and smart Bangladesh by 2041.
Wednesday 03 July 2024 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka, speaking as the president in the break out session on Sustainable Blue Production of the International Conference on Ocean Prosperity-Catalyzing the Blue Economy in Bangladesh jointly organized by the Bangladesh Planning Commission and the Asian Development Bank, Bangladesh. The minister made this call during the presentation.
Minister of Fisheries and Livestock and Member of the Presidium of Bangladesh Awami League Birmuktijoddha Md. Abdur Rahman said that our aim is to achieve the socio-economic development of the people by finding ways of sustainable production and extraction of marine resources and exploiting the immense potential of the sea.
The minister said, to achieve the target of building a smart Bangladesh by 2041, we cannot move forward depending only on foreign aid, grants or cooperation. We have to enrich our own resources. We need to put our economy on a solid foundation. And to do this we need to harness the marine economy properly. The minister said that if we can properly utilize the immense potential of the Sunil economy, it will be possible to meet our internal needs and strengthen the base of our own economy.
Mentioning that there are various areas of development of marine resources, the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock said that if practical and practical action plans based on the sea are formulated and acted upon, it can make a great contribution to our economy.
Mentioning that Bangladesh is a country with great potential in terms of blue economy, the minister said, besides fish, the main source of endless potential in the sea is biotechnology or biotechnology, shipbuilding and shipbreaking industry, marine aquatic animal farming, salt production, use of marine renewable energy, oil and gas and other marine industries. Mineral exploration, seaports and sea tourism. He said, we have to develop these areas or elements. Fish is a major sector of the Blue Economy. Marine fisheries can be transformed into a major resource only when we can properly exploit and utilize these resources.
The minister said, we have to face some challenges in the field of marine fish collection. Research on fish location, movement, fish stock in the sea should be strengthened. Besides, honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken efforts to bring survey ships from China to carry out survey work to know the quantity or location of fish in the sea, said the minister. The minister also said that these ships will come to the country very soon. As a result of this, it will be possible to strengthen our economy by using the location of fish in the sea, conservation of fish and fishery resources, he said.
Assuring those who research marine resources and open the way of possibilities, the minister said that the head of the government honorable Prime Minister Jannetri Sheikh Hasina and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock are politically committed to implement these. The minister said that smart Bangladesh will be built by 2041 by setting an example in the development of blue economy.
Honorable Member of Parliament Md Nasser Shahriar Zahedi as special guest and Abdul Baki, Member (Secretary) of Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Institutions Department of Bangladesh Planning Commission as guest of honour. Also as key note speakers Prof. Chenhong Li, Shanghai Ocean University, China, Dr. Ramaiah Nagappa, Chief Scientist, National Institute of Oceanography, India, Dr. Mostak Ahmed, Senior Scientist, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Professor Qi Jin, Ocean University, China were present