DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged authorities concerned to ensure sustainable development through proper management of sea resources.

The premier made the remarks while inaugurating a two-day long international workshop on “International Workshop: Blue Economy” in capital’s Sonargaon Hotel around 11:00 am Monday.  

Some 20 countries including Bangladesh have been participating the workshop.

Hasina said besides land resource, we can use the sea resources to the best of the country's interests which can open a new horizon of development.

Foreign minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali gave the welcome speech where finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, environment and forest minister Anwar Hossain Manju, fisheries and livestock minister Saiful Haque and shipping minister Shahjahan Ali , among others, were present. 

The participator countries are United States of America, Sweden, Netherlands, Filipines, Thailand, Oman, India, Iran, Kenya, Tanjania, Marisus, China, Japan, Korea, Australia, Sisel, and Bangladesh.

The AL chief said since last 40 years, the governments did not take any initiatives to solve the maritime conflict with Myanmar and India.

But the incumbent AL government solved some problem of the maritime issues, she added.

Hasina said, foreign trade of Bangladesh mostly depends on sea. For this, Bangladesh gained the rank 44 around the world in GDP size attaining $130 billion dollar growth.

The drug industry could be flourished using the sea resource, she added.

BDST: 1308 HRS, SEP 1, 2014