Bangladesh Maritime University, a specialized public maritime university of the country, organized an international seminar today titled “Blue Economy: Unlocking the Potential of Oceans for Sustainable Development of Bangladesh.” The seminar was held at the Senaprangan, Dhaka Cantonment.
Education Advisor to the Ministry of Education, Professor Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar, graced the occasion as the chief guest in the closing ceremony of the said international seminar.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, OSP, NPP, ndc, ncc, psc, was the chief guest in the inaugural ceremony of the day-long seminar. The seminar was presided over by the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Rear Admiral Ashraful Hoq Chowdhury, NBP, OSP, BCGM, ndu, afwc, psc.
The keynote paper of the international seminar was presented by Professor Dr. Pierre Failer, Professor at the University of Portsmouth, UK, and Chair of Ocean Governance at UNESCO.
In the seminar, Professor Dr. Teng Zin of the National Ocean Technology Center of China, Professor Natrah F.B. Mohd Ikhsan, Head of the Aquaculture Department of Universiti Putra Malaysia, and Dr. Tonia Astrid Capuano, Oceanography Expert of the French Government Agency of expertise, presented their papers on different topics at the seminar.
The seminar consisted of 03 (three) parallel technical sessions. In its first session titled "Blue Economy Sector," Dr. Md. Mojibar Rahman, the District Climate Change Coordinator of UNDP, Professor Dr. Md. Yeamin Hossain, Department of Fisheries, Rajshahi University, and Dr. Md. Saiful Islam, Assistant Professor of Bangladesh Maritime University, presented papers in the seminar.
In the second parallel technical sessions titled "Ocean Governance", Dr. Upal Aditya Oikya, Assistant Professor of the School of Law, BRAC University, Md. Mostafijur Rahman, Assistant Professor of the Department of Law, Prime University, and Nishat Tarannum, Lecturer of Maritime Law of Bangladesh Maritime University, also presented their papers. In the 3rd session titled “Ocean Science and Technology,” Professor Dr. Zobair Ibn Awal, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, BUET, K M Azam Chowdhury, Associate Professor, Department of Oceanography, Dhaka University, and Arpita Roy Shawon, Research Assistant at the National Oceanographic and Maritime Institute, presented their papers.
The sessions were chaired by Captain Kazi Ali Imam, Professor Dr. M A Wahab and Professor Dr. Md. Sadiqul Baree, and Professor Dr Mohammad Nazir Hossain, respectively, of the university. Representatives from various ministries, maritime ports, Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard, various maritime stakeholders from the government and private sectors, representatives from educational institutions, and various domestic and foreign maritime experts were present at the seminar.
The seminar connected the maritime experts, academicians, industries, and stakeholders from home and abroad, which will have a notable impact on the betterment of the maritime sector of Bangladesh as well as the university.
The chief guests of the closing and opening ceremonies, keynote speakers and other panelists of the seminar expressed their valuable opinion to all public and private maritime stakeholders including Bangladesh Maritime University were urged to work together to harness the immense potential of the maritime sector like Blue Economy, ensuring the exploration, extraction and proper utilization of marine resources. Bangladesh Maritime University has been trying to produce skilled manpower, innovate advanced modern technology, and create new knowledge through research for the sustainable development of the maritime sector. To this end, all the scholars and stakeholders are guided to take necessary initiatives to formulate appropriate policy, plans, and create a roadmap. All present at the seminar were also agreed that only the development of the maritime sector will be able to contribute a greater part to the development of the overall economy of the country as well.
