The Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies (CBoBS) and the Department of Global Studies and Governance (GSG) of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) jointly organized a seminar titled “Global Shipping Issues Affecting Bangladesh: Challenges and Pathways to Resilient Solutions for Blue Economy” on October 12, 2025, at IUB. The event brought together key policymakers, industry leaders, and academics to assess global shipping challenges and outline strategies to strengthen Bangladesh’s maritime resilience and blue economy.
Brigadier General (Retd) Dr. M. Sakhawat Hussain, Advisor to the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Jute and Textiles, attended the seminar as Chief Guest. Recognized for his ministerial-level influence on national shipping and economic policy, Dr. Hussain emphasized that sustainable port development and international investment are central to Bangladesh’s global trade connectivity.
He stated, “We want international investment in ports. Without it, the ports are nowhere in the dot. We can talk about the blue economy all day, but without good ports global connectivity is hampered. We need a solid port strategy and experts to look into it.”
Prof. M. Tamim, Vice Chancellor of IUB, delivered the welcome remarks. Rear Admiral Md Khurshed Alam (Retd), Director of CBoBS, presented the keynote address highlighting the relationship between ecological responsibility and economic growth.
Prof. Tamim said, “If the sea is not taken care of, then the society and economy will never flourish. Unless we look into our ecology, our economy will not rise well. We have to start thinking out of the box for better results and work on our skills and capacity.”
The discussion included remarks from Prof. Md. Mamun Habib, Head of the Department of Management, School of Business and Entrepreneurship (SBE), IUB; Khandaker R. Zaman, Managing Director and CEO of ALLSEAS Shipping Ltd.; Azam J. Chowdhury, Chairman of the Bangladesh Ocean Going Ship Owners’ Association (BOGSOA); and Mohammad Yousuf, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping.
Khandaker R. Zaman discussed global maritime trade dynamics, noting the strategic importance of the Bay of Bengal within the Indian Ocean trade network. “Maintaining the flow of crude oil from producer to consumer countries within the IORA and other maritime regions is crucial,” he said.
Azam J. Chowdhury highlighted policy reforms that have spurred investment in Bangladesh’s shipping sector. “Thanks to the Ministry’s waiving of the 7% VAT, more investors are now able to purchase ships… Within a short span of time, our vessel number has increased from 35 to 102. Annually, we are bringing in one billion dollars in freight income, and Bangladeshi seafarers are contributing 700 million dollars in remittances.”
Mohammad Yousuf said, “I urge all stakeholders, public and private, to work together with urgency and a shared purpose. We must transform the Bay of Bengal from a boundary into Bangladesh’s economic gateway. Innovation, sustainability, and collaboration must not just be buzzwords; they must be the guiding principles for our maritime strategy for the next decade.”
Prof. Dr. Daniel W. Lund, Pro-Vice Chancellor of IUB, delivered the vote of thanks, commending all speakers for their contributions to advancing policy dialogue on blue economy and maritime sustainability. The seminar was hosted by Zahid Bin Rashid and Yazdi Zaman from IUB’s Global Studies and Governance Department.
The event was jointly organized by the Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies (CBoBS) and the Department of Global Studies and Governance (GSG) of IUB, in association with Mongla Port Authority, ALLSEAS Shipping Ltd., Bangladesh Ocean Going Ship Owners’ Association (BOGSOA), and Bangladesh Shipping Corporation.
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