PM calls for improving maritime cooperation

Hasina attends opening of IORA Leaders’ Summit

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has emphasised sustainable use of marine resources as essential for economic prosperity and regional energy cooperation at the IORA Leaders' Summit in Jakarta. In her address to the inaugural ceremony of the first-ever Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)  Leaders’ Summit that formally kicked off at the Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta yesterday, she called for enhanced maritime cooperation, reports BSS from Jakarta.
Sheikh Hasina pointed out that Bangladesh adheres to the policy of “zero tolerance” towards terrorism and violent extremism while “our approach, by extension, also encompasses into ensuring maritime safety and security”.
She expressed her hope that the Declaration on Countering Violent Extremism Leading to Terrorism by the IORA would definitely enhance cooperation and coordination among the member countries.
The premier also sought enhanced energy cooperation among IORA nations saying Bangladesh recognises the positive impact of regional energy cooperation on national endeavors towards sustainable energy exploration.  
Bangladesh, she said, already took initiatives to expand power and energy trade with the neighbours and was also developing a renewable energy circuit using ocean and atmospheric forces based on maritime industries.
“We hope that countries of the Indian Ocean region would join us in creating new world of energy security,” she said.  Noting that connectivity is critical for peace and development, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh attaches high priorities to connectivity.
“We would like to connect not only physically but also connect through ideas, innovation, trade, finance, culture and tourism. More importantly, we would like to connect human minds to build peaceful and prosperous societies,” she said.  Sheikh Hasina said climate change appeared as one of the most challenging issues and “in spite of our efforts, we still remain hostage of adverse impacts of climate change”.
“And that means we are advancing towards an alarming rise in the sea level,” she said.  
Sheikh Hasina referred to a scientific prediction that with one meter rise in the sea level Bangladesh will lose one third of its most valuable agricultural land which would also displace about 18 million people.
“We did not create global warming but we are its worst sufferers. The need to ensure climate justice is a matter we take very seriously,” she said.
Pointing out that today is a memorable day for Bangladesh the premier said Father of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his historic speech at Suhrawardhy Udyan in Dhaka in 1971.
“Bangabandhu delivered his historic speech that inspired the people of Bangladesh to fight for independence. I respectfully remember the invaluable contribution of Bangabandhu and pay my tribute to the brave martyrs who sacrificed their lives for our freedom,” she said.
Earlier, the prime minister attended the opening session on Adoption of the Agenda and Programme of Work, Summary of Reports and the session on Adoption and Signing of the Outcome Document of the Summit” Indonesia President Joko Widodo, who is also the current chairman of IORA, formally opened the summit in the presence of the heads of state and government and representatives of 21 coastal states bordering the Indian Ocean.  Representatives of seven dialogue partners of IORA as well as a number of invited guests attended the inaugural function.  Local artistes performed traditional dance beating “Gendang Papua”, a small traditional “dhol” (drum) of Indonesia.
Later, they presented the drums to the heads of state and government including the Bangladesh prime minister who later beat the drums for a while before the guests.
Apart from the Bangladesh prime minister, President of South Africa Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, President of Yemen Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, President or Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena, President of Madagascar Hery Rajaonarimampianina, President of Mozambique Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, Vice President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Malaysian Prime Minister Seri Najib Razak, Vice President of Comoros Azali Assoumani, Vice President of Seychelles Vincent Meriton, Prime Minister of Australia Malcom Turnbull are attending the summit. Indonesia is hosting the Leaders’ Summit in commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the IORA, a grouping of nations having coastlines with the world’s third largest ocean. The three-day summit is being held in Indonesia for the first time since the launching of IORA in 1997 while the theme of meet this year is “Strengthening Maritime Cooperation for a Peaceful, Stable, and Prosperous Indian Ocean”. Earlier on her arrival at the summit venue, the Bangladesh prime minister was received by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Later, the prime minister joined a photo session of the heads of state and government of IORA. The summit has brought together the leaders of 21-member association, seven dialogue partners and individuals working for promoting cooperation and closer interaction in the region. The summit will adopt a strategic action plan on countering violent extremism and terrorism.
Members of the association are- Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, the UAE and Yemen.

PM calls for improving maritime cooperation

Hasina attends opening of IORA Leaders Summit

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has emphasised sustainable use of marine resources as essential for economic prosperity and regional energy cooperation at the IORA Leaders Summit in Jakarta. In her address to the inaugural ceremony of the first-ever Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Leaders Summit that formally kicked off at the Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta yesterday, she called for enhanced maritime cooperation, reports BSS from Jakarta. Sheikh Hasina pointed out that Bangladesh adheres to the policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and violent extremism while our approach, by extension, also encompasses into ensuring maritime safety and security. She expressed her hope that the Declaration on Countering Violent Extremism Leading to Terrorism by the IORA would definitely enhance cooperation and coordination among the member countries. The premier also sought enhanced energy cooperation among IORA nations saying Bangladesh recognises the positive impact of regional energy cooperation on national endeavors towards sustainable energy exploration. Bangladesh, she said, already took initiatives to expand power and energy trade with the neighbours and was also developing a renewable energy circuit using ocean and atmospheric forces based on maritime industries. We hope that countries of the Indian Ocean region would join us in creating new world of energy security, she said. Noting that connectivity is critical for peace and development, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh attaches high priorities to connectivity. We would like to connect not only physically but also connect through ideas, innovation, trade, finance, culture and tourism. More importantly, we would like to connect human minds to build peaceful and prosperous societies, she said. Sheikh Hasina said climate change appeared as one of the most challenging issues and in spite of our efforts, we still remain hostage of adverse impacts of climate change. And that means we are advancing towards an alarming rise in the sea level, she said. Sheikh Hasina referred to a scientific prediction that with one meter rise in the sea level Bangladesh will lose one third of its most valuable agricultural land which would also displace about 18 million people. We did not create global warming but we are its worst sufferers. The need to ensure climate justice is a matter we take very seriously, she said. Pointing out that today is a memorable day for Bangladesh the premier said Father of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his historic speech at Suhrawardhy Udyan in Dhaka in 1971. Bangabandhu delivered his historic speech that inspired the people of Bangladesh to fight for independence. I respectfully remember the invaluable contribution of Bangabandhu and pay my tribute to the brave martyrs who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, she said. Earlier, the prime minister attended the opening session on Adoption of the Agenda and Programme of Work, Summary of Reports and the session on Adoption and Signing of the Outcome Document of the Summit Indonesia President Joko Widodo, who is also the current chairman of IORA, formally opened the summit in the presence of the heads of state and government and representatives of 21 coastal states bordering the Indian Ocean. Representatives of seven dialogue partners of IORA as well as a number of invited guests attended the inaugural function. Local artistes performed traditional dance beating Gendang Papua, a small traditional dhol (drum) of Indonesia. Later, they presented the drums to the heads of state and government including the Bangladesh prime minister who later beat the drums for a while before the guests. Apart from the Bangladesh prime minister, President of South Africa Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, President of Yemen Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, President or Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena, President of Madagascar Hery Rajaonarimampianina, President of Mozambique Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, Vice President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Malaysian Prime Minister Seri Najib Razak, Vice President of Comoros Azali Assoumani, Vice President of Seychelles Vincent Meriton, Prime Minister of Australia Malcom Turnbull are attending the summit. Indonesia is hosting the Leaders Summit in commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the IORA, a grouping of nations having coastlines with the worlds third largest ocean. The three-day summit is being held in Indonesia for the first time since the launching of IORA in 1997 while the theme of meet this year is Strengthening Maritime Cooperation for a Peaceful, Stable, and Prosperous Indian Ocean. Earlier on her arrival at the summit venue, the Bangladesh prime minister was received by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Later, the prime minister joined a photo session of the heads of state and government of IORA. The summit has brought together the leaders of 21-member association, seven dialogue partners and individuals working for promoting cooperation and closer interaction in the region. The summit will adopt a strategic action plan on countering violent extremism and terrorism. Members of the association are- Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, the UAE and Yemen.