Inclusive action needed to unlock blue economy, experts say

Amid rising climate vulnerability and underused maritime resources, regional experts and policymakers have called for inclusive action to unlock Bangladesh’s blue economy and strengthen coastal resilience.

Ashik Chowdhury, executive chairman of the Moheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (MIDA), stressed the need to prioritise maritime zones, highlighting gaps in deep-sea fishing, disaster management and marine conservation.

He spoke at an event, titled “The Northeast Indian Ocean Regional Dialogue on Sustainable Blue Economy, Connectivity, and Resilience for SIDS”, held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka in the capital yesterday.

The two-day dialogue, co-hosted by the MIDA and supported by the Ocean Policy Research Institute, aims to chart a path toward sustainable and inclusive ocean-based development.

At the event, Emadul Islam, senior research fellow at the Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan, urged the amplification of coastal voices and stronger links between science and policymaking.

Speakers from Bangladesh, Japan, India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives discussed marine spatial planning, climate resilience and regional cooperation.

Mohammad Navid Shafiullah, additional secretary at the Ministry of Environment, introduced the Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership, aimed at strengthening access to climate finance. Tanzim Faruq, executive member of MIDA, outlined Maheshkhali’s transformation plan, featuring four key zones and an expected investment of $60 billion to $65 billion.