The government is working to establish a solid foundation for Bangladesh’s future economic trajectory, the head of the Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority has said, stressing the need to better harness the country’s vast maritime resources amid growing climate and development challenges.
Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, executive chairman of MIDA, made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing a two-day regional dialogue on “Sustainable Blue Economy, Connectivity, and Resilience for Small Island Developing States” in Dhaka.
He said one of the key responsibilities of the current interim administration was to prepare a functional platform that the next elected government could build upon. With the national election less than a month away, he said ensuring continuity and long-term planning remained a priority.
Ashik Chowdhury highlighted a longstanding imbalance in how Bangladesh manages its land and sea-based resources. While the country’s land area covers about 130,000 square kilometres, its maritime zone in the Bay of Bengal extends over roughly 164,000 square kilometres.
“Despite the sea being larger than our landmass, we spend less than one-tenth of our energy and focus on maritime issues,” he said, pointing to sectors such as deep-sea fishing, disaster management and marine environmental protection.
He said the workshop aimed to help develop a blueprint that could guide future governments in better utilising maritime resources, creating employment opportunities and supporting sustainable economic growth, particularly for coastal communities.
The dialogue was jointly organised by the Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, MIDA and Peace and Policy Solutions, bringing together policymakers, researchers and regional experts from the northeast Indian Ocean region.
Speaking at the event, OPRI President Professor Mitsutaku Makino said the discussions were being held against the backdrop of escalating climate impacts, including rising sea levels, stronger cyclones, coral bleaching and coastal erosion.
“These changes are not only environmental issues,” he said. “They pose direct threats to livelihoods, economies and cultural identities of millions of people who depend on the ocean.”
Professor Makino underlined the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean, often described as the “Great Middle Bay”, which connects more than 30 countries. He noted that for Japan, the region is a critical maritime corridor, carrying around 80 per cent of the country’s energy imports. He added that Japan’s vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific rests on the principle that maritime security, sustainable development and responsible ocean stewardship must advance together.
MIDA member Commodore Tanzim Faruque said Maheshkhali, located on Bangladesh’s southeastern coast, has significant potential to become a major industrial hub. He said MIDA, established in July 2025, aims to transform the area over the next three decades through the development of world-class infrastructure, economic zones and planned townships, while maintaining environmental balance.
Dr Emadul Islam, senior research fellow at OPRI, delivered the keynote presentation and described the ocean as the lifeblood of the global economy. He said the ocean absorbs about 90 per cent of the planet’s excess heat and provides oxygen and food for around four billion people.
However, he warned that marine ecosystems are under unprecedented stress. Sea levels are rising, underwater temperatures are increasing and nearly 1,600 species face the risk of extinction, he said.
Dr Emadul also raised concerns about coral reef degradation, describing reefs as vital to sustaining life on Earth and warning of the growing threat posed by plastic pollution. If current trends continue, he said, the Bay of Bengal could turn into what he described as a “plastic soup” within the next two decades.
He stressed the importance of inclusive policymaking, urging governments to ensure that coastal communities, often excluded from high-level decision-making, are meaningfully involved in shaping ocean and climate policies.
Participants said the dialogue underscored the urgency of long-term planning, regional cooperation and climate-resilient development as Bangladesh seeks to balance economic growth with environmental protection in its maritime future.
