World Hydrography Day tomorrow: President, PM issue messages

The World Hydrography Day will be observed tomorrow across the country like elsewhere in the world.

The World Hydrography Day is observed on June 21 every year since 2006. This initiative was taken by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) to increase awareness about the safe navigation, technical standards and protection of the marine environment.

This year’s theme for World Hydrography Day is ‘Hydrography- Underpinning the Digital Twin of the Ocean’.

Bangladesh Navy (BN) is expected to observe the World Hydrography Day through different programmes highlighting the role of hydrographic in everyone’s life.

On the eve of the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages wishing success of the day.

In his message, President Mohammed Shahabuddin said: “I extend my best wishes to all involved with ensuring safe and uninterrupted intercontinental maritime trade through hydrographic activities.”

The president said Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman formulated the ‘Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act – 1974’ to achieve sovereignty over the sea boundary with the aim of building a hunger-and poverty-free as well as self-reliant Bangladesh.

Following the footsteps of Bangabandhu, the government has established the country’s rights over vast sea areas by legally resolving maritime boundary issues with neighboring countries giving greater emphasis on the sea and sea-based economy, the head of the state added.

He hoped that the scientific knowledge of the sea and the implementation of applied knowledge to this end will play an important role in establishing a prosperous Bangladesh for the future generations of the country.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said: “I extend my sincere greetings to all the members of Bangladesh Navy for observing the day.”

Following the footsteps of Bangabandhu, the Awami League-led government settled the maritime disputes with Myanmar in 2012 and with India in 2014 and established Bangladesh’s just rights over 1,18,813 square kilometers of sea area in the Bay of Bengal.

“In 2021, we amended and updated the Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act-1974,” the premier added.

Noting that the vast new sea area of the Bay of Bengal and its plenty of resources have opened new doors of possibilities for Bangladesh, she said in an effort to build smart citizens, smart economy, smart government and smart society in Bangladesh to achieve sustainable development goals, the current government has prioritized blue economy.

She also lauded Bangladesh Navy as the Hydrographic Service of it is working tirelessly to collect scientific data of the seabed to provide best knowledge of it.

Apart from these steps, the implementation of Forces Goal 2030 is also progressing rapidly, she said, adding that modern technology, ships, aircraft and oceanographic-research vessels are being included in an effort to increase the capabilities of the Navy.

The quality of Bangladesh’s hydrographic activities and training under the leadership of the Navy is recognized worldwide today, she mentioned.

“We continue to play a leading role in global, regional and international forums in various fields of oceans and hydrography,” she added.

The premier hoped that the naval personnel would work with utmost sincerity for the motherland by utilizing the country’s limited resources and hard-earned money.

Sheikh Hasina called upon all those associated with the profession of hydrography to work shoulder to shoulder with the aim of accelerating the blue economy.

Noting that Bangladesh is now a developing country, she hoped that she would be able to use all the possibilities of blue economy to turn Bangladesh into the golden Bangladesh as dreamt by the Father of the Nation by 2041. (BSS)