DHAKA : Executive Chairman of the Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (MIDA) Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun today stressed the need to integrate the Blue Economy into Bangladesh's national development vision, saying the country's maritime resources could become a major driver of economic growth, employment and export diversification.

"Bangladesh must fundamentally change the way it views its geography by placing equal importance on its vast maritime territory alongside its land resources," he said.

The MIDA chief made the remarks while speaking to reporters after attending a seminar titled "Investment Potential in Fisheries and Marine Economy in Bangladesh" at a city hotel.

Ashik Chowdhury said, "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 the Blue Economy offers enormous opportunities to accelerate economic growth by unlocking the country's untapped marine resources, creating millions of jobs and expanding export earnings.

He emphasized that fisheries should be considered only the starting point of a much broader maritime economy encompassing seafood processing, marine industries, logistics, shipbuilding and other ocean-based sectors.

The MIDA Executive Chairman called for stronger collaboration between the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), MIDA and relevant ministries to formulate coordinated policies and attract both local and foreign investment into the sector.

He said institutional coordination would help transform Bangladesh's perception of the maritime economy and enable the country to fully utilize its strategic location on the Bay of Bengal.

He also reaffirmed the government's commitment to developing high-potential sectors to ensure sustainable economic growth, urging all stakeholders to work together to make the Blue Economy a key pillar of Bangladesh's future development strategy.