Expert Speak Energy News Monitor
Published on Nov 11, 2019
Inaugural Keynote of Hon’ble Prime Minister Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina at the Global Dhaka Dialogue

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim 

The chair,

Colleagues,

Respected guests from home and abroad,

Ladies and gentlemen.

Assalamu Alaikumand and a very Good Morning.

I welcome you all at the inaugural ceremony of the ‘Dhaka Global Dialogue-2019’, organized by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and India’s Observer Research Foundation (ORF). I hope, this Dialogue would substantially contribute to the socio-economic development and in maintaining security of the countries in Asia and the Pacific region.

At the very outset, I pay my deep homage to the greatest Bangalee of all times, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. I also recall the four martyred national leaders, 3 million martyrs of the Liberation War, and 2 lakh mothers and sisters who sacrificed their modesty for the cause of independence. My greetings go to the heroic freedom fighters.

The Father of the Nation not only dreamt of a prosperous ‘Sonar Bangla’ (Golden Bengal), he called upon everyone to come forward to build a world free from poverty, hunger and conflict, appearing in the United Nations in 1974. He emphasized on global peace and security for the sake of human welfare.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Nowadays, Bangladesh is very often being termed as a ‘Miracle of Development’ in the international arena. Today Bangladesh is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. According to the World Bank, Bangladesh stands second in Asia and fifth in the world among the fastest growing economies. This year economy of Bangladesh has exceeded 300 billion dollar mark. According to IMF, Bangladesh has 30th largest GDP in the world in terms of PPP.

Bangladesh has already achieved the recognition of the status of a ‘Developing Country’, graduating from LDC status. We have undertaken ‘Vision 2021’ and ‘Vision 2041’ to be a ‘Middle Income Country’ by 2021 and a ‘Developed-Prosperous Nation’ by 2041. Therefore, we have concentrated, as development strategy, on poverty alleviation, sustainable growth, environmental preservation and human resources development.

After achieving most of the MDGs we have undertaken firm steps to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The rate of poverty has been reduced to 21% in 2018 from 41.5% in 2006. Free books are being distributed among students up to secondary level and different stipends are being provided to 2 crore 3 lacs students. Recently a project of providing lunch to 2 lac students has been undertaken. 18,000 community clinics and union health centers has been established to ensure healthcare for all.

Lots of projects such as ‘Amar Gram, Amar Sohor’, ‘Amar Bari, Amar Khamar’, ‘Asrayan Prokalpo’ etc. are being implemented, apart from providing different allowances to marginalized and non-secured portion of the society for ensuring inclusive development.

93% people of Bangladesh are having electricity coverage. Currently, the number of Internet users is over 90 million. 5800 digital centers have been set up. The facility of expansion of broadcasting to remote areas is reached by ‘Bangabandhu Sattellite-1’

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Bangladesh has been one of the most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change although the country has no significant role for it. As a result, floods, cyclones, droughts and other natural disasters can threaten people's lives and livelihoods. We have been implementing some adaptation and mitigation programs with our own finance. We have adopted the ‘Delta Plan-2100’ as a part of the long term planning. The aim of this plan is to ensure sustainable development, including food security, availability of drinking water, and disaster management through proper and appropriate utilization of water resources.

Geographically Bangladesh is a country ashore of the Bay of Bengal, and as such of the Indian Ocean. This Ocean has huge significance for various reasons. Indian Ocean consists of a number of vital maritime routes, which contribute significantly to the largest economies of Asia. Half of the global container shipment and 80% of global fuel trade pass through the Indian Ocean. 16.8% of the global reserve of oil and 27. 9% of natural gas is situated in this Ocean. 28% of the total fisheries are collected from Indian Ocean. Indian Ocean, being the source of immense resources and the part of strategically important seaways, is thus considered very important. The present century is being considered as the ‘Century of Asia’ in term of socio-economic development and prosperity. As a result, peace and harmony must be maintained for the prosperity of the region.

Poverty is our main enemy. Therefore, the main goal of all our activities should be directed to eradicate people's poverty and ensure their comfortable lives.

As an offshore country, the sea plays an extremely important role in Bangladesh’s economy, and for many reasons Bangladesh puts high priority on the Indian Ocean as well as on Bay of Bengal.

Firstly, 90% of total external trade of Bangladesh is conducted through maritime routes. The security and stability of these maritime routes is very important for the economic stability of Bangladesh.

Secondly, after the reconciliation of maritime boundaries with Myanmar in 2012 and with India in 2014, Bangladesh’s absolute sovereignty has been established over an area of 1,18,813 square km in the Bay of Bengal. This huge maritime area, including 200 nautical miles, can be a source of huge resources for Bangladesh. The utilization of these resources for the economic development of the country largely depends on the stability of this region.

Thirdly, apart from natural gas, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean contain huge amount of fisheries as well as mineral and other resources. Through proper sustainable planning and with collective and sincere efforts of all, these resources can be utilized for the sustainable development of the countries of this region. A study shows that the tentative amount of resources that can be collected from the maritime area of Bangladesh, is almost equal to the tentative amount of resources Bangladesh produces in its land.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Not only Bangladesh, there are total 40 developing countries surrounding the Indian Ocean, where lives 35 per cent of the global population. There are 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.

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. The resources, environment, ecology and security of the ocean and the sea directly affect the economy and the security of these nations. Therefore, peace and stability in the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal is essential for the economic progress and security of these countries.

In terms of regional security, I would like to say that more than 1.1 million Rohingya citizens of Myanmar fled to Bangladesh in the face of persecution and they are a threat to the security not only for Bangladesh but also for the region. I urge the world community to take appropriate action realizing the gravity of the threat.

 ‘Friendship to all, malice to none’, the dictum inculcated by Bangabandhu, is indeed the main principle of Bangladesh’s foreign policy. Also in the area of maritime boundary and maritime economy, Bangladesh believes that strong competition among each other or ‘zero-sum game’ will not be helpful in flourishing the ‘Blue Economy’ of the Bay of Bengal or the Indian Ocean, rather would act as a stumbling block in ensuring security and stability in this region. I also believe that, in order to extract maritime resources sustainably as well as for the durable development of the ‘Blue Economy’, the relations between coastal countries need to be cooperative, amicable, dignified and equitable.

Bangladesh always exerts strong efforts to enhance peaceful and cooperative relations in the region of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. Bangladesh has resolved its disputes on maritime boundaries in a peaceful manner with its two neighbours, India and Myanmar. Such cooperative approach and efforts of us in resolving crises can be a learning lesson for other regions.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Different threats like piracy, armed robbery, terrorists attacks in coastal and maritime areas, human trafficking, arm and drug smuggling, are existent in Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal region. These unconventional risks are needed to be addressed collectively by all.

Excessive extraction of marine resources, including fisheries, as well as various pollutions is jeopardizing the maritime environment. Not only the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, but all oceans and seas in the globe are now suffering from these dual crises. Every year, 8 million tons of plastic wastes are being gathered in the oceans and seas in the world. 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 creating for human health and livelihood. To resolve these crises is not possible by a single country.

In order to resolve all these problems, I call upon all concerned countries to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation as well as partnerships. Bangladesh believes that such cooperation is needed to be inclusive for all and with the aim of everyone’s development and security.

Bangladesh, due to its geographical location, is acting as a bridge between South Asia and South-East Asia. In the same manner, ‘Dhaka Global Dialogue’ will act as a platform for the countries in this region on the way of achieving environmentally sustainable peace and prosperity. I believe that the recommendations emerging from this Dialogue would be helpful in enhancing relations, strengthening collaboration, and maintaining peace and stability among the neighbours of this region. Nations outside this region would also learn and be benefitted from this success, as I believe.

I expect regular holding of ‘Dhaka Dialogue’ and declare the ‘Dhaka Global Dialogue-2019’ open. Thank you all.

Khoda Hafez.

Joi Bangla, Joi Bangabandhu

May Bangladesh Live Forever.

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