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Sheikh Hasina said, “The present century is being considered as the
‘Century of Asia’ in terms of socio-economic development and prosperity.”
The premier however stressed the need for maintaining peace and harmony
for the prosperity of the region.
Terming poverty as the main enemy of the region, she said, “Therefore, the
main goal of all our activities should be directed to eradicate people’s
poverty and ensure their comfortable lives.”
About importance of the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal for economic
progress and development of the region, the prime minister said, “The
economies of the countries ashore of or dependent on the Indian Ocean and the
Bay of Bengal, and the lives of their peoples, are hugely influenced by the
ocean and the sea.”
“Therefore, peace and stability in the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal
is essential for the economic progress and security of these countries as the
resources, environment, ecology and security of the ocean and the sea
directly affect the economy and the security of these nations,” she
continued.
The premier said, there are 40 developing countries surrounding the Indian
Ocean, where 35 per cent of the global population lives while six countries
surrounding the Bay of Bengal, and few more countries like Nepal, Bhutan, the
Maldives, Malaysia and Singapore have important impact of the Bay on their
economies despite not being at the coast.
She stated that half of the global container shipment and 80 percent of
global fuel trade passes through the Indian Ocean while 16.8 percent of the
global reserve of oil and 27.9 percent of natural gas is situated in this
Ocean.
The Ocean consists of a number of vital maritime routes, which contribute
significantly to the largest economies of Asia while 28 percent of the total
fisheries are collected from Indian Ocean, she said.
She also said there are various unconventional threats such as piracy,
armed robbery, terrorist attacks in coastal and maritime areas, human
trafficking, arm and drug smuggling, in the Indian Ocean and the Bay of
Bengal region.
The premier called upon all concerned countries to strengthen bilateral and
multilateral cooperation as well as partnerships to resolve all these
problems.
“Bangladesh believes that such cooperation is needed to be inclusive for
all and with the aim of everyone’s development and security. Bangladesh
always exerts strong efforts to enhance peaceful and cooperative relations in
the region of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean,” she said.
The premier said Bangladesh became role model for other countries as it
peacefully resolved the maritime disputes and land boundary agreement with
neighbouring Myanmar and India.
She advocated for cooperative, amicable, dignified and equitable
relationship between coastal countries to extract maritime resources
sustainably for the development of the ‘Blue Economy’.
But, the premier expressed her stance against excessive extraction of
marine resources, including fisheries and pollutions which are jeopardizing
the maritime environment.
“Pollution and excessive extraction of marine resources are destroying the
ecologies in the sea, damaging the overall environment of the world. As a
result, threats are being created for human health and livelihood. It is not
possible to resolve these crises by a single country,” she said.
In this context, she said that every year, 8 million tons of plastic
wastes are being gathered in the oceans and seas in the world.
MORE/AHJ/GMR/1410 hrs