Online Desk: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has requested Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) leaders to dedicate themselves to strengthening maritime cooperation for a peaceful and prosperous Indian Ocean.
She was addressing in the general debate on �Strengthening Maritime Cooperation for a Peaceful, Stable, and Prosperous Indian Ocean Rim� at the IORA Leaders� Summit at Jakarta Convention Centre in the Indonesian capital on Tuesday, reports BSS.
The premier particularly proposed establishing up of a maritime university in Bangladesh to be called Indian Ocean Technical and Vocational University to make a pool of skilled mariners for the region adding Dhaka considered IORA as a �natural habitat for �our efforts to project our aspirations jointly with the nations of the region and beyond�.
�Our quest for development through oceans and seas is a part of our larger efforts to transform Bangladesh along with the rim countries. Let�s dedicate us to strengthening maritime cooperation for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indian Ocean,� she said.
Sheikh Hasina also called upon the IORA leaders to ensure safety and rights of mariners and other oceangoing professionals saying despite their global reputation for skills and dedicated workmanship, seamen and marine engineers sometimes face unwarranted challenges.