Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Realizing the importance of the sea for the development of a maritime country like Bangladesh Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman enacted the Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act 1974 soon after our independence, even before the promulgation of UNCLOS-III in 1982. Being a prime maritime organization of the country, Bangladesh Navy took the arduous efforts to establish Bangladesh Institute of Maritime Research and Development (BIMRAD) on 03 July 2018. The objectives of the institute are to create maritime awareness, conduct maritime quality research for further policy recommendations, support the blue economy initiatives of the government and act as a common platform for all maritime intellectuals, researchers and stakeholders to exchange their valuable opinions.

In recent past, under the dynamic leadership of Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has obtained her maritime territory of 1,18,813 square kilometres, 200 nautical miles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and an additional area of Continental Shelf by peacefully resolving the maritime boundary disputes. This has unfolded new opportunities for Bangladesh for optimum utilization of sea and its huge living and nonliving resources. The emerging reality necessitates Bangladesh to develop capabilities to ensure sustainable utilization of marine living and non-living resources and conduct research on maritime issues including maritime security, trade, food, energy, climate change, biodiversity, pollution, tourism and many more.

I firmly believe BIMRAD will be able to meet the aspirations of the nation towards the development of maritime resources. I hope that in the near future, BIMRAD will be a hub and ‘Centre of Maritime Excellence’ for conducting quality maritime research and sharing valuable opinions among the stack holders.

I wish a bright future for this Institution.