The government has started massive activities to utilize the untapped potentials of ‘Blue Economy’ which is spread over 1,18,813 square kilometers (sq km) of marine area.
Keeping the concept of ‘Blue Economy’, Sheikh Hasina led Awami League government has already formulated short, medium and long-term “Plan of Actions”on blue economy with a view to conserving, harnessing, managing and developing of resources in the Bay of Bengal.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim said this while speaking as chief guest at a seminar on 'Seed Possibilities in Blue Economy: Research Progress and Commercialization' organized by Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) at a city hotel in the capital on Thursday.
The minister said, “There are valuable fish resources under the deep sea. We will extract it. To this end we have taken various plans. We have already taken up the project of extracting tuna fish from the sea. There are opportunities to earn foreign exchnages from these fish”.
“We will reach the place of perfection with marine resources. The government will take whatever steps are needed to develop all the marine resources, including seaweed, in Bangladesh, which has immense potential, “he added.
“Although a lot of resources from our country have been taken away at different times, we are still blessed with our basic resources and determination. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dreamt to enact a law on the sea in 1973. Now we are working under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to realize the dream," the minster added.
“Our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has a plan how to extract the vast resources of the sea. He named it ‘Blue Economy’. After coming to power in 1996, Sheikh Hasina has taken one plan after another. Our Fisheries Research Institute has expanded. We will expand its activities to all coastal areas," he further said.
BFRI Director General Yahya Mahmud presided over the program while Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock secretary Raunak Mahmud was present as special guests and Director General of the Department of Fisheries Kazi Shams Afroz was present as special guest. Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Md. TaufiqulArif delivered the welcome address at the seminar.
Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Shyamal Chandra Karmakar, senior officials of the Ministry and BFRI including Subodh Bose Moni, scientists, extension workers, representatives of government and non-government organizations, teachers of various universities, fisheries entrepreneurs and fish farmers were present at the seminar.
