Dr. Golam Shafiuddin, ndc, the additional secretary of Energy and Mineral Resources Division of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh attends a courtesy call at the headquarters of the news daily The Bangladesh Today. The acting editor and the publisher of the daily, Md. Jobaer Alam gave the secretary a warm reception at his premises. Golam Shafiuddin is the chief of the Blue Economy Cell of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resource Division. The cell is the lead agency which coordinates the work of 19 ministries of the government on blue economy. During his visit the secretary touches upon various aspects related to blue economy.

He stressed the fact that the cell needs to be empowered through the patronization of government. “Bangladesh’s maritime victory had achieved almost eight years ago and we are yet to realize the immense potential of the resources to be founded beneath the ocean.

Need assessments accompanied by comprehensive surveys in the ocean will not only help the country to materialize the blue economy resource mapping but also curve out new sectors that may contribute to increase the country’s GDP. The cell is committed to popularize the concept of Blue Economy and create mass awareness from the investment community to the grassroots level.

To celebrate the legendary Mujib year in 2020 the cell is planning to take initiatives involving multiple stakeholders” In his remark, Jobaer Alam, also an oceanographer who chairs the Department of Oceanography at the University of Dhaka echoed the points discussed by the secretary. “The future lies in ocean economy. It needs investment and proper planning to take the blue economy agenda forward. The return will be very high if a separate ministry related to blue economy affairs is being established”, Jobaer Alam commented.