PM urges neighbours to ensure maritime security
Thursday, 25 October 2018
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday urged the neighbouring countries to come forward to curb various maritime crimes as it is not possible to do that by a single country, report agencies.
Hasina also laid importance on finding ways and means for future improvements of the maritime security of Asia through sharing experiences of different countries.
The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the 14th high-level meeting of heads of Coast Guards and Maritime Agencies (HACGAM) 2018 at Hotel Radisson in the city.
"Maritime security is highly important for us as the life and livelihood of a large population in this region are mainly dependent on the sea," she said.
She said it is essential to ensure the safe plying of water vessels in the sea for communications and trade as 90 per cent foreign trade of Bangladesh is done by sea transportation.
Sheikh Hasina said there is a link between the development of human civilisation and ocean.
Early human habitation was built around the seas or waters.
"The importance of oceans can also be understood from the fact that 70 per cent of the world people still live within 100 km of the coastlines. The nearer a society is to the ocean, the better is the life of its members," she said.
"It's not possible to curb these crimes by a single country... it's possible to uproot these crimes through unified efforts and this is indispensable," she said.
"Though regrettable, in our maritime boundaries, human trafficking, illegal arms trafficking, human trafficking, unreported and unregulated fishing, piracy, armed robbery and many more illegal activities often take place," she said.
Sheikh Hasina mentioned that not only the local criminals, criminals from the neighbouring countries are also involved in these criminal activities.
The criminals also use sophisticated technologies and machinery in committing their crimes, she added.
Pointing out sovereign rights of Bangladesh over huge sea areas after winning the maritime boundary cases against India and Myanmar, she said there is an abundance of resources there.