The government wants more prosperity in blue economy by this year. To fulfill this target, long term investment is essential, say specialists.
Specialists feel that if the sea bed is properly used then by 2030, around 5 per cent of GDP will be earned from ocean economy.
A large sea area with 75 islands have been added to the Bangladesh maritime border and specialists feel that these should be developed as tourist spots along with investment in other areas.
Former chairman of Bangladesh Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research, BCSIR, Professor Dr. S M Emamul Huq, says, “If the minerals under water are used then the picture of the country will change totally.”
Saying that several countries are eager to be associated with blue economy, he added, if expected minerals are accumulated then Bangladesh economy will reach unprecedented heights in ten years.
Several reports made by the ministry of science and technology inform that there are at least 13 spots in the Bay of Bengal which contain valuable sand, Uranium and Thorium.
Bay of Bengal contributes 16 per cent of the world’s fish production which can be increased by adopting necessary steps. Around thirty million people are engaged in the ocean based fish industry.
Rightly using the resources of the sea will open up possibilities of renewable energy. Economists say that the usage of ocean side wind power is rising by 40 percent and this can be explored by Bangladesh.
There is also a huge possibility in the development of ocean based fishing industry since Bangladeshi fishermen are catching large amount of Tuna and other popular varieties from the deep seas.
A joint secretary of the ministry of aviation and tourism, says, “The government is devoted to the expansion of the tourism industry and has already adopted plans to beautify several archeological sites across the country.”
Former finance and planning adviser to the caretaker government, Dr ABM Mirza Azizul Islam, said, “The government has to take the right initiatives to develop the economy and find out new sectors that strengthen the economy.”