Dhaka, Broadcasting News Corporation : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given the following Message on the occasion of the ‘World Maritime Day 2022’ :
“I am delighted to learn that Bangladesh and other IMO Member States and stakeholders are celebrating ‘World Maritime Day 2022’. The theme of this year has been rightly chosen as ‘New Technologies for Greener Shipping,’ emphasizing the need to promote a green transition of the maritime industry into a sustainable future without leaving any issues behind. This issue offers a chance to concentrate on the significance of a sustainable maritime industry and the requirement to build better and more environmentally friendly shipping in a post-pandemic world.
At the outset, I render my profound regards and honor to the Greatest Bengali of all time, the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is also the founder and architect of maritime development in Bangladesh. Greener shipping will help to fight against global warming. A green ship would leave the least amount of carbon emissions. In order to promote green shipping, environmental issues must be considered, from the ship’s design to decommissioning. New technologies such as switching to low Sulfur fuel, use of LNG as a marine fuel, implementation of exhaust scrubber system, waste heat recovery system, use of wind energy with the sail and kite propulsion system, and exhaust gas re-circulation system should be taken into account. Our Government supports IMO activities for a more environmentally friendly transition of the shipping industry towards a sustainable future, as well as for marine innovation, research and development and induction of new technologies.
Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable nations to the impacts of global climate change in the coming decades. Due to the adverse effects of climate change, summers are becoming hotter, irregular monsoon, untimely rainfall, heavy rainfall over a short period causing water logging and landslides, very little rainfall in the dry season, increased river flow and inundation during monsoon, recurrence of floods, crop damage due to flash floods and monsoon floods, crop failure due to drought, etc. Unless action is taken to limit carbon emissions in the atmosphere, South Asia will suffer more droughts and floods, rising sea levels, and declines in food production. However, to address the challenges of climate change, we have established Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF), Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund (BCCRF), and a Global Center on Adaptation in Dhaka.
‘The World Maritime Day 2022’ theme will enable various initiatives that focus on particular issues relating to the promotion of inclusive innovation and the adoption of new technologies to support the demands for a greener transition in the maritime sector.
I wish ‘World Maritime Day, 2022’ a grand success.
Joi Bangla, Joi Bangabandhu
May Bangladesh Live Forever.”