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The Bay is ours: A chapter of success and honour

Shazzad Khan
***Gaining access to and control over a huge area of maritime boundary (about 110,000 sq km) has opened up an avenue for the poor people to get more economic opportunities and alleviate poverty in the near future.***
IN our life we often ignore the influence of destiny. But sometimes one cannot stop for a moment to ponder about the coincidence that reigns around a very specific time and place. In the context of Bangladesh the month of March appears to be dominated by the stars of fortune. It was in this month that we found our flag fluttering all over Bangladesh (March 23,1971), it was in this month we received the clarion call from Bangabandhu to liberate Bangladesh (March 7,1971), it is in this month we celebrate our coveted Independence Day (March 26,1971), it was in this month the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra came into being (March 26,1971), it was in this month our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu was born (March 17 1920) and it was in this month we learnt that the Bay is ours (March 14, 2012) — a stretch of 200 nautical miles all around the coast is ours!
Sometimes some success transcends the boundary of antagonism, because it leaves no question to be asked. It is very unfortunate in our political culture that we always suffer from poverty of mind in appreciating opposition's success. Hardly have we seen the two major parties of Bangladesh appreciating each other. If AL did something, BNP would say it was wrong, and vice versa. It has always been like yes-no blame game. If AL says yes, BNP says no and if BNP says yes, AL says no. But miraculously, the BNP chairperson in her recent speech in the Parliament highly appreciated the move taken by AL in claiming Bangladesh's rightful maritime boundary at ITLOS and gaining its territorial rights over 200 nautical miles in the Bay of Bengal.
To speak the truth, the success that AL achieved in gaining its authority over the Bay of Bengal superseding the claim of Myanmar is tantamount to winning a victory over a territory. There is no way any Bangladeshi can oppose such a victory in whatever manner. Irrespective of any party
politics and any differences each of us should be proud of what we have gained. Thus, the Vision 2021 of Bangladesh has obviously expanded farther to gain more economic growth and sustainability. In fact, gaining access to and control over a huge area of maritime boundary (about 110,000 sq km) has opened up an avenue for the poor people to get more economic opportunities and alleviate poverty in the near future.
For the last 38 years the longstanding dispute with Myanmar over the access to Bay of Bengal has impeded Bangladesh in harnessing natural resources and fishing. For many a year in the past Bangladeshi
fishermen used to be detained or harassed by the Myanmar navy personnel if they were found cruising in the disputed waters. Bangladesh fishermen can now fish in a vast water area which will definitely bring about economic change in their lives and in the country itself. Not to say, the potential of harnessing gas and oil in the Bay under the seabed will usher in a new future for Bangladesh.
As a development worker I shall especially focus on the rights and access of the coastal fisherfolk community over vast waters of the Bay. Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), the leading rights and governance organisation in the country, has been
working with coastal fisherfolk communities in partnership with CODEC, a national NGO working with the coastal fishermen in the coastal districts of Bangladesh. With the award of the vast sea area by the ITLOS the scope of catching huge amount of fish has expanded.
In Bangladesh, the number of coastal fisherfolk is 13,200,000. They are dependent on catching sea fish for their livelihood. The contribution of this population to national protein intake annually is 58%. The annual marine fish production at present is 497,573 metric tons, which is 4.04% of the GDP. With the huge increase in the maritime boundary Bangladesh now can catch much larger amounts of fish in comparison to the present fish production. Not only will it fulfil the protein need of the country but will also earn more foreign currency through increase in export. However, for doing so, the government has to increase the number of deep-sea fishing trawlers, which now stands at 180. Moreover, the government should give special attention to the fisherfolk communities so that they can get benefit and support for catching fish without any hindrance and suffering.
Finally, it goes without saying that the achievement that Bangladesh has attained is an outcome of the outstanding efforts taken on by the Awami League government. All credit goes to the concerned personnel of the present government, including the prime minister herself. Needless to say, the Awami League government made sincere efforts to claim Bangladesh's territorial rights over the Bay of Bengal since 1974. This claim turned more and more potent based on equity over territorial waters of Bay under Awami League government in 1996 and 2009. We feel proud of being a part of the achievement amidst many social, economic and political failures. Thanks to the government and its people.
The writer is a development worker.
E-mail: Shazzadk@yahoo.co.uk