Experts at a seminar on Thursday stressed the critical role of maritime law in promoting sustainable ocean governance and underscored the shared responsibility of all stakeholders in safeguarding marine resources for future generations.
The Bangladesh Maritime Law Society (BMLS), a member of the Comite Maritime International (CMI), hosted the seminar titled 'Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity' at the CIRDAP International Conference Centre in Dhaka, with technical support from MCLaw Services Ltd.
Speaking as the chief guest, Rear Admiral Dr. Khandakar Akhter Hossain, Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Maritime University, pointed to the rapid pace of technological change, saying that technology is coming fast.
He urged the maritime community to prepare for emerging trends in automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
He also underlined the importance of developing human-to-human resources alongside technical expertise.
S. M. Moinul Islam, Country Manager of Tyser Group Services Ltd, London, who was a special guest at the event, highlighted Bangladesh's unique advantage of access to the sea, describing the ocean as both a "huge opportunity for our economy" and a responsibility to pursue sustainable marine practices.
He called for expanded research in maritime sectors and suggested training mariners in AI and digital applications.
Another special guest, Commodore Syed Misbah Uddin Ahmad (retd), Director General of BIMRAD, underscored the importance of strengthening maritime research and knowledge-sharing systems.
He stressed that investment in marine science, sustainable practices, and institutional collaboration would be critical to unlocking the potential of Bangladesh's maritime sector.
Justice AFM Abdur Rahman, a retired justice of the Supreme Court, who chaired the event, placed special emphasis on sustainable fisheries and the responsible management of marine resources.
He noted that while the blue economy holds significant promise for Bangladesh, it must be developed through environmentally sustainable methods to ensure long-term benefits for the national economy and coastal communities.
Mohiuddin Abdul Kadir, President of BMLS, and Dr Mir Tareque Ali, Professor, NAME, BUET, were the keynote speakers.
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