Govt building strong base for future economy: MIDA chief

"The interim government's responsibility includes establishing a solid foundation for the country's future economic trajectory," he said while speaking as the chief guest at a two-day northeast Indian Ocean regional dialogue on 'Sustainable Blue Economy, Connectivity, and Resilience for SIDS' at a hotel in the city.

Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI), Sasakawa Peace Foundation in collaboration with MIDA and Peace and Policy Solutions (PPS) hosted the dialogue.

Ashik Chowdhury highlighted a significant disparity in how the nation manages its resources. 

"While Bangladesh occupies a landmass of approximately 130,000 square kilometers, its maritime region in the Bay of Bengal extends over 164,000 square kilometers," he added.

 Despite the sea being larger than the land, he noted that the country spends less than one-tenth of the energy and focus on maritime issues-such as deep-sea fishing, disaster management, and environmental conservation-compared to land-based concerns. 

With the national election only 30 days away, Ashik Chowdhury underscored that a primary duty of the current interim administration is to provide the incoming government with a functional platform.

 He expressed hope that the ongoing workshop would produce a foundation and an initial starting point that the elected government can build upon. 

"Our blueprint will serve as a very good starting point for them," he remarked, noting that it will play a vital role in helping the next administration utilize maritime wealth and generate employment for people living in coastal areas.

OPRI President Professor Mitsutaku Makino and MIDA Member Commodore Tanzim Faruque, among others, also spoke on the occasion.

Professor Makino emphasized that the dialogue serves as a response to the escalating impact of climate change, which includes rising sea levels, intensifying cyclones, coral bleaching, and coastal erosion. 

He warned that these environmental shifts are not merely ecological concerns but direct threats to the livelihoods, economies, and cultural identities of millions of people who depend on the ocean for survival.

He highlighted the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean, often referred to as the 'Great Middle Bay', which connects over 33 nations. 

For Japan, this region is a critical maritime corridor, facilitating approximately 80% of the nation's energy imports, he added.

Professor Makino noted that Japan's commitment to a 'free and open Indo-Pacific' is rooted in the belief that maritime security, sustainable development, and ocean stewardship must advance hand-in-hand.

Tanzim Faruque said that Maheshkahli is a coastal district located in the Southeastern coast of Bangladesh.

"MIDA came into being in July 2025. We have an ambitious vision to transform Moheshkhali area into a flagship of country's industrial advancement in next 30 years and beyond a place that will host world-class infrastructure, thriving economic zones, and new townships, all functioning in harmony with the natural environment," he added.

Dr. Emadul Islam, Senior Research Fellow at the Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI) of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan, delivered the keynote presentation.

In the presentation, Emadul Islam underscored the ocean's role not merely as a body of water, but as the bloodstream of the global economy.

He emphasized that the ocean is the most critical place on Earth, absorbing 90% of the planet's excess heat and serving as a primary source of oxygen and food for four billion people. 

However, he said, this mother of life is facing unprecedented stress.

He mentioned that sea levels are rising, underwater temperatures are spiking, and nearly 1,600 species face extinction. 

Emadul Islam warned of the coral drift, noting that the degradation of coral reefs-the 'heart for sustaining the earth'-is a dire consequence of human ignorance and lack of seriousness.
Furthermore, he said that the threat of plastic pollution looms large.

"If current trends continue, the Bay of Bengal could transform into a plastic soup within 20 years," he added.

Emadul Islam stressed the importance of an inclusive approach, ensuring that the voices of coastal communities-often ignored in high-level policy-are finally counted in the policy lab, reports BSS.