'Sea – Ocean are the blessings for mankind with unbounded resources and huge potentialities most of which is still unexplored. The industries growing around the sea in present day world is contributing as the key factor to economic progresses.'
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told these on Thursday (Sept.5) inaugurating the 3rd Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Blue Economy ministerial level conference held at hotel Intercontinental in the capital.
The conference has begun at 10 a.m. in the morning at hotel Intercontinental.
Prime Minister said that there is a close relation amongst peace, security and sustainable development. We must be attentive to the fact that the healthy environment of sea is not affected while achieving economic progress. For this reason there must be a policy of sea conservation and activities shall have to be carried accordingly.
She said that we must be alert about the criminal offences happened around the seas. We must understand the reality that the oceans will bring us overall welfare for us if we take positive measures for the resource conservation and invest more for those.
Prime Minister said that it is an unpalatable truth that our seas are facing dangerous threats due to problems created by human. Extraction of excessive resources, polluting environment, oil spilling and pollution by the plastic garbage, sound pollution and overall climatic change are the reasons for the threats. Due to this, global warming is increasing. Due to this entire adverse situation the member countries of IORA are being affected by natural calamities including tsunami and cyclone.
In his address of welcome, Secretary of Maritime Affairs unit of the foreign ministry Rear Admiral (Rtd.) M. Khorshed Alam said that Bangladesh has achieved a vast maritime boundary which will contribute for the socio- economic progress of the country. He laid stress on the cooperation of the member countries of the association.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said that if we work together then we will be gainer economically and if we follow the rules and regulations to conserve the sea then its health will remain good. He disclosed that every year 8 million of plastic garbage is entering into the sea. This garbage is entering into the health of the living sea species and ultimately entering the human body creating adverse impacts on human health.
Environment, Forest and Fisheries Minister of South Africa Makhutsu Magdilin- Sathue said that for permanent progress the Indian Ocean must be kept peaceful. Any type of conflict in this vast water body might hamper the progress of the member states.
The Secretary General of IORA Ambassador Dr. Nombhoy n Nokway said the mankind is inviting threat through inconsiderate using of sea resources. He stressed on observing the systematic use of sea resources by the member states. The sea level of Indian Ocean is getting high causing disaster for the coastal regions.
Secretary General of International Seabed Authority Michael W Lodje said that it needs scientific knowledge of the area before extraction of resources. We must think about the safety of our future generation thinking not only about present economic gain.
More than hundred delegates of more than 30 countries consisting of ministers, deputy ministers and secretaries are taking part in this 3rd Indian Ocean Association IORA conference.
The member sates of IORA are Australia, Bangladesh, Camorras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Sicily, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emeritus and Yemen.