3 Jun 2017 - Bangladesh held a national ocean consultation on 1 June 2017, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The consultation on the theme 'SDG 14: Life Below Water’ sought to prepare country-specific voluntary commitments ahead of the high-level UN Ocean Conference (5-9 June 2017).
The organisers aimed to create awareness on the country’s commitments on Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) which seeks to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
Over 160 participants from government ministries, development partners, civil society groups, research organizations and media attended the consultation to exchange their views. Breakout sessions identified country specific voluntary commitments, call for actions and ways and means to strengthen cooperation for the implementation of SDG 14.
The consultation was chaired by Rear Admiral Khurshed Alam, Secretary, Maritime Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangladesh. The Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque, attending as special guest, together with the SDG Coordinator of Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office, Mr, Abul Kalam Azad. UNDP Country Director Mr. Sudipto Mukerjee and Khurshed Alam, Secretary, Maritime Affairs Unit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs also participated.