IUB hosts national dialogue on blue economy and trade resilience

Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) organised a national dialogue on the blue economy and maritime resilience, in participation with policymakers, industry leaders, and academics to explore strategies for strengthening Bangladesh's position in global trade and sustainable port development.

The seminar, titled "Global Shipping Issues Affecting Bangladesh: Challenges and Pathways to Resilient Solutions for Blue Economy," was jointly organised by IUB's Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies (CBoBS) and the Department of Global Studies and Governance (GSG).

Brigadier General (Retd) Dr. M. Sakhawat Hussain, Advisor to the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Jute and Textiles, attended as the chief guest. Highlighting the importance of investment in port infrastructure, he said, "We want international investment in ports. Without it, the ports are nowhere in the dot. We can talk about the blue economy all day, but without good ports global connectivity is hampered. We need a solid port strategy and experts to look into it."

Prof. M. Tamim, Vice Chancellor of IUB, delivered the welcome remarks, stressing the connection between ecological preservation and economic progress. "If the sea is not taken care of, then the society and economy will never flourish. Unless we look into our ecology, our economy will not rise well. We have to start thinking out of the box for better results and work on our skills and capacity," he said.

The keynote address was presented by Rear Admiral Md Khurshed Alam (Retd), Director of CBoBS, who underlined the need for balancing ecological responsibility with economic growth.

Panel speakers included Prof. Md. Mamun Habib, Head of the Department of Management at IUB's School of Business and Entrepreneurship (SBE); Khandaker R. Zaman, Managing Director and CEO of ALLSEAS Shipping Ltd.; Azam J. Chowdhury, Chairman of the Bangladesh Ocean Going Ship Owners' Association (BOGSOA); and Mohammad Yousuf, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping.

Khandaker R. Zaman discussed global maritime trade dynamics and the strategic importance of the Bay of Bengal. "Maintaining the flow of crude oil from producer to consumer countries within the IORA and other maritime regions is crucial," he said.

Azam J. Chowdhury noted the positive impact of recent policy reforms. "Thanks to the Ministry's waiving of the 7% VAT, more investors are now able to purchase ships… Within a short span of time, our vessel number has increased from 35 to 102. Annually, we are bringing in one billion dollars in freight income, and Bangladeshi seafarers are contributing 700 million dollars in remittances," he said.

Mohammad Yousuf urged collective action, saying, "I urge all stakeholders, public and private, to work together with urgency and a shared purpose. We must transform the Bay of Bengal from a boundary into Bangladesh's economic gateway. Innovation, sustainability, and collaboration must not just be buzzwords; they must be the guiding principles for our maritime strategy for the next decade."

Prof. Dr. Daniel W. Lund, Pro-Vice Chancellor of IUB, delivered the vote of thanks, appreciating the speakers' insights and reaffirming the university's commitment to advancing policy research in the blue economy.

The seminar was hosted by Zahid Bin Rashid and Yazdi Zaman from the GSG Department. It was organized in association with Mongla Port Authority, ALLSEAS Shipping Ltd., BOGSOA, and Bangladesh Shipping Corporation.