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Editorial

Coastal and maritime development

Ensure proper utilisation of unused resources


Bangladeshpost
Published : 06 Jun 2020 09:00 PM | Updated : 05 Sep 2020 04:00 PM

Global cooperation is essential for the sustainable use of marine and other aquatic resources. The government is fully aware of the issue. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s speech at the ‘Virtual Ocean Dialogue’ in Geneva on Wednesday in a video conference raised new possibilities in this regard. 

She called on the world community to renew its commitment to maritime activities by putting forward a three-point proposal to increase global cooperation in the sustainable use of marine resources. Meanwhile, closely connected with the marine aspect of the country, the government is also looking to develop the coastal areas for further protection. 

The government is going to construct 600-kilometre dam in different coastal areas of the country, including Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira for the safety of the people of those areas and their crops from natural disasters.


Major  damage caused by super cyclones 

in the future can be reduced to a minimum 

in the coastal areas


Most of the dams protecting these areas have already been damaged by the cyclones and floods over the years and are more or less ineffective in serving their purpose. Since this is a prime issue for the low lying areas of the country, if these dams are not repaired or reconstructed, people, crops and properties in the areas will suffer severely in case of natural disasters.

A report published in this daily pointed that the dams need to be rebuilt or repaired with additional height. This way major damage caused by super cyclones in the future can be reduced to a minimum in the coastal areas. The three projects will be implemented in the form of Coastal Dam Development Project Phase.

This massive undertaking is going to be very costly and thus proper usage of the funds must be ensured. The recent super cyclone Amphan has wreaked havoc in the coastal areas. These projects will accomplish in protecting the coastal people and properties. 

For a coastal state like Bangladesh, it is possible to open a new door for development in various fields, especially the ones that have not been fully expanded. The real goal now is to make the most of all the possibilities. In this case, increasing global cooperation is vital.