BSS, Chittagong :
President Abdul Hamid has said a strong, modern and dependable navy is needed to protect the vast maritime boundary and harness the huge marine resources for the development of national economy.
“There is no alternative but to build a strong, modern and dependable navy to protect and harness the marine resources and maintain the country’s sovereignty over the vast sea area which is full of fishes, gas and other undiscovered valuable mineral resource,” the President said while speaking at the National Standard Conferment Ceremony at BNS Base Issa Khan here on Tuesday.
He said Bangladesh has been able to establish its authority on a vast sea area under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2009.
This huge sea area is full of economic potentials as it is enriched with marine resources, he said, adding that the blue economy can play an enormous role in the development of the nation. So, it is now the demand of the time to harness the marine resources and ensure its best use for the development of the nation, he added.
President Hamid said Bangladesh has a 710-kilometer coastal area and about three crore people of this area are directly and indirectly dependent on the sea for maintaining their livelihood.
Besides, about 90 percent of the country’s overseas trade is carried out through the sea, he said, adding that so, it is essential to develop the sea area and ensure its security for the development of the national economy.
Abdul Hamid, who is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, said a significant number of war ships, maritime helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft have been included in Bangladesh Navy during the period of this government that has turned the navy into a two-dimensional force.
And it is a matter of happiness that two submarines are going to be added to the fleet of the navy making it a three-dimensional force and the navy will be able to play special role in maintaining the country’s overall defense, he added.
