Secretary, Maritime Affairs Unit, Md. Khurshed Alam delivered speech on behalf of LDC’s at the high-level UN Ocean Conference

UsaNewsOnline.Com, New York : “Healthy oceans are critical for sustaining life, eliminating poverty and promoting prosperity. This is more applicable for Least Developed Countries. The time is now to move from words to actions to conserve and sustainably use our oceans, seas and marine resources”- said by Khurshed Alam, Secretary, Maritime Affairs Unit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the plenary session of high-level UN Ocean Conference to support the implementation of sustainable development goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development in New York 7 June.  While speaking on behalf of LDC group, Secretary (MAU) mentioned the importance of ocean to humankind as a major source of food, livelihood, climate regulator in the world. He further said that LDCs are badly exposed to continuous pollution of oceans and unsustainable exploitation of marine resources and ocean warming, though our contribution to these degradations is insignificant. For moving ahead, he highlighted seven concrete points, important for LDCs, for implementation of the time specific ambitious targets of SDG 14 which include, awareness raising at all levels on ocean pollution, suitable fiscal policies and science-policy interface, prohibition of certain forms of fisheries subsidies and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. He particularly called G7 and other developed states for meaningful transfer of marine and other technologies to LDCs, capacity building, effective partnership at all levels, new and predictable funding and exploration of new sources of financing for LDCs in line with already agreed different agreements and frameworks.

This week-long ocean conference started on 5 June 2017 where 14 Heads of State and Government, and many high-level delegations from all over the world gathered to express solidarity for conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. Other than delivering statement at the plenary, Bangladesh actively participated in seven thematic partnership dialogues flagging our relevant concerns and arranged two side events in the margin of the conference. Bangladesh also registered three voluntary commitments on curbing plastic bag use, enhancing ecological sustainability of our mangrove forest, fish and other marine species and afforestation. UN Secretary General António Guterres and President of the General Assembly Peter Thompson delivered speeches at the inaugural session. This conference will end on 9 June 2017 by adopting a political document ‘call-for-action’.