UNB, Dhaka

Sun Mar 6, 2022 01:08 PM Last update on: Sun Mar 6, 2022 01:12 PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. File photo

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. File photo

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the important role of cadets from Marine Fisheries Academy will help the government achieve the SDG-14 by tapping ocean resources for sustainable development.

“The government has taken a number of steps to achieve the SDG-14 by using marine resources for sustainable development. I hope your role will be inevitable in achieving this goal of our government,” she said.

Hasina said this while addressing the special parade marking ‘Mujib Borsho’ of the 41st batch of Marine Fisheries Academy.

The programme was held at Marine Fisheries Academy and the Prime Minister joined it from her official residence Gono Bhaban.

The Prime Minister said the cadets, being trained from the academy, are going to become fearless sailors in the deep sea. “I firmly believe this knowledge gained through the hard work, perseverance and intensive training will be helpful in your future work.”

Referring to recovering vast sea areas from India and Myanmar, Hasina said the Awami League government has laid special emphasis on the “Blue Economy” and extraction of resources from the sea has opened up a new door for the socio-economic development of Bangladesh’s growing population.

“With your active participation, I hope, the extraction of marine resources will be further enhanced, which will enrich our economy alongside helping achieve the goal of the government’s blue economy,” she said.

The PM said the Bay of Bengal, a reservoir of natural resources, is constantly supplying a huge amount of fishery resources to meet the demand for protein of the people of Bangladesh. “So, you people have to always play a leading role in the extraction, preservation and marketing of fisheries from the Bay of Bengal alongside conservation of its biodiversity and prevention of environmental pollution.”

The PM said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had concentrated on agricultural and industrial revolution as well as the maritime sector to strengthen the economic base of post-independence war-torn Bangladesh.

She said the Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act, 1974 was enacted by Bangabandhu for Bangladesh in 1974, at a time when there was no specific standard for framing the maritime law in the world.

She said the Marine Fisheries Academy, the first maritime educational institution in independent Bangladesh, was established in 1973 on the south bank of the river Karnaphuli under the far-reaching plan and direction of the Father of the Nation.

The PM said the academy was established to generate trained manpower in the fisheries sector for the efficient extraction of fishery resources in the country’s vast seas, meeting the demand for protein of the largest population and earning foreign currency.

But she regretted that the progress of the Marine Fisheries Academy was hampered after the assassination of Father of the Nation in 1975 and there had been no progress at that time as expected.

Since the Awami League government assumed power, she said, it is transforming this institution into an international standard maritime educational institution.

According to the election manifesto of Awami League government, Hasina said, female cadets are being admitted to this academy for the development of women’s education and empowerment of women.

She mentioned that the recruitment of female cadets started from the 32nd batch in 2010.

The PM said 1,914 cadets, including 58 female cadets who have successfully graduated from the academy, have been working hard in various maritime sectors at home and abroad to strengthen the foundation of the country’s economy.

This year, a total of 84 female and male cadets, including 33 cadets in the nautical department, 31 cadets in the marine engineering department and 20 cadets in the marine fisheries department, are passing in the 41st batch of the academy.

A video documentary on the Marine Fisheries Academy was also screened at the programme.

The Prime Minister also witnessed the special parade and took the salute.