The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations jointly organized ‘Bangladesh Blue Economy Dialogue on Fisheries and Mariculture’ during 19-20 February 2019 at Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon, Dhaka.  This dialogue has been convened to arrive at a consensus on the most suitable way – in the context of the nation’s social, cultural and economic status, trends and aspirations -- to develop Blue Economy of Bangladesh.  The outcome of the development is a sustainable Blue Economy,  inclusive and equitable.  The focus has been on fisheries and coastal land based aquaculture and  mariculture.  Nonetheless, the other components of the Blue Economy have been described and their links and synergies with fisheries and mariculture and with each other explained.  These have included tourism especially eco- and recreational tourism,  renewable as well as fossil-based energy,   transport and related logistics, mining,  and  education and culture.  The global value of the Blue Economy is immense and Bangladesh has the potential  - the assets  --  to add to that value and its people to benefit from it. For this, it must develop its capacities.  An oft-mentioned asset is the more than 120 million square kilometers of marine territory, continental shelf, and inshore waters….as well as the long brackishwater resources for aquaculture.   For this purpose,  the dialogue  have convened representatives of key stakeholders of the and resource persons to identify, discuss and arrive at a consensus on (i) the essential enabling conditions and (ii) facilitators for fisheries and aquaculture to contribute meaningfully and sustainably to the blue economy of Bangladesh.

Hon’ble State Minister, Ministry of Fisheries & Livestock, Mr Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru, MP attended as the Chief Guest of the Inaugural session. While Rear Admiral (Retd.) Md. Khurshed Alam, BN, Secretary, Maritime Affairs Unit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr Robert D Simpson were the Special Guests. The Inaugural Session was chaired by Mr Md Raisul Alam Mondal, Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries & Livestock. Dialogue comprised of six technical sessions namely :  1. Mainstreaming and Institutionalizing the Blue Economy in Bangladesh for long-term growth to be Chaired by : Rear Admiral (Retd) Md. Khurshed Alam, BN  Secretary, Maritime Affairs Unit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh tbc; 2. Potential of the Blue economy to meet sustainable development needs and leverage opportunities in Bangladesh to be chaired by Mr Abul Kalam Azad, Principal Coordinator (SDG Affairs), Prime Minister’s Office. 3. Operationalizing the Blue Economy – Enhancing Sectoral Performance in Coastal and Offshore Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture, to be Chaired by chair: Mr Sajjadul Hassan, Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office; 4. Operationalizing the Blue Economy – Adding Value to Existing Value Chains and Sustainably Developing New Value Chains through Multi-Sectoriality to be Chaired by : Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Chairman, PKSF; 5.. Next Steps—Mainstreaming of Blue Economy Endeavors; to be chaired by: Mr Md Raisul Alam Mondal, Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and Dr Ainun Nishat, Professor Emeritus.