A special workshop has been held under the Australia Awards Fellowship 2026 with the aim of strengthening regional cooperation in developing a sustainable blue economy in the Bay of Bengal and improving ocean governance. It was held on Sunday in the seminar hall of the Bangladesh Institute of Maritime Research and Development (BIMRAD) in Dhaka.
Admiral Khondkar Misbah Ul Azim, chief of the Bangladesh Navy and chief patron of BIMRAD, was chief guest, and Australia’s deputy high commissioner to Bangladesh was special guest.
Speaking as chief guest, Admiral Khondkar Misbah Ul Azim said the fellowship could open a new door for regional cooperation among Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. He called on the fellows to use the knowledge and professional experience they have gained to meet practical maritime challenges and contribute to a sustainable blue economy. The fellowship, run by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is organised by the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security at the University of Wollongong.
Participants in the workshop exchanged practical experience and had the chance to identify possible areas of cooperation in joint research, policymaking and the sustainable management of marine resources. Special importance was given to strengthening regional professional networks, increasing institutional cooperation and encouraging the effective use of knowledge in meeting shared maritime challenges. BIMRAD also set out the need for regional partnership, effective ocean governance and coordinated initiatives if the Bay of Bengal’s vast marine resources and economic potential are to be used for sustainable development. The organisers said initiatives of this kind will play an important part in expanding maritime research, policymaking and regional cooperation.
Fifteen fellows from various countries took part. They discussed and exchanged professional experience on a range of subjects, among them the development of a sustainable blue economy, maritime security, ocean governance, marine resource management, conservation of fish stocks and climate resilience.
The chairman of BIMRAD, a representative of the University of Wollongong and senior figures concerned were present. The information was given in a press release from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report