Sea can drive Bangladesh’s next growth: MIDA
Blue Economy should become a key pillar of national development strategy, says Ashik Chowdhury
ATT Correspondent 
Bangladesh must place the Blue Economy at the centre of its national development strategy to unlock the country’s vast maritime potential and create a new engine of economic growth, employment and export diversification, Executive Chairman of the Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (MIDA) Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun said on Monday at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka.
Speaking to reporters after attending a seminar titled Investment Potential in Fisheries and Marine Economy in Bangladesh at a city hotel, Ashik Chowdhury said Bangladesh needs to fundamentally rethink its geography by giving equal importance to its maritime resources alongside its land-based economy.
“We often imagine Bangladesh only through its landmass, overlooking the Bay of Bengal. This mindset has limited our thinking and planning. The sea should not be viewed as a boundary but as a gateway to prosperity,” he said.
He said the country’s extensive marine resources remain largely untapped despite offering enormous opportunities to accelerate economic growth, generate millions of jobs and strengthen export earnings.
According to the MIDA chief, fisheries represent only one component of a much broader Blue Economy, which also includes seafood processing, marine industries, logistics, shipbuilding, offshore services and other ocean-based economic activities.
“Bangladesh has immense opportunities to build globally competitive industries by fully utilising its maritime resources. The Blue Economy can become one of the country’s next major growth drivers if supported by the right policies and investments,” he said.
Ashik Chowdhury stressed the need for stronger institutional coordination among the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), MIDA and relevant government ministries to formulate integrated policies and attract both domestic and foreign investment into marine-based industries.
He said coordinated planning would help change Bangladesh’s traditional perception of the sea and enable the country to capitalise on its strategic location on the Bay of Bengal.
The MIDA Executive Chairman also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing high-potential sectors capable of supporting sustainable economic growth and long-term industrialisation.
He urged policymakers, investors and development partners to work together to make the Blue Economy a central pillar of Bangladesh's future development vision, saying the country's maritime sector could play a transformative role in strengthening economic resilience and expanding opportunities for future generations.
