Chittagong: French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy has emphasized the significance of establishing a Marine Spatial Data Infrastructure (MSDI) to support sustainable blue growth in Bangladesh. This development comes as Dhaka explores the possibility of developing earth observation satellite capabilities.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the ambassador mentioned that the establishment of a national MSDI is timely and beneficial, especially with Bangladesh considering acquiring an earth observation satellite system. This system would enhance the country's ability to monitor its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) effectively. Her remarks were made during a seminar recently.
Following the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) held in Nice in June, the French Embassy organized the third edition of its 'Blue Talk' series at the University of Chittagong (CU) on Monday. This event was in partnership with the Institute of Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), as noted in a press release from the French Embassy today.
The seminar aimed to explore the development of MSDI in Bangladesh, bringing together policymakers, researchers, hydrographers, and international experts to discuss its practical applications across marine sectors. An MSDI would facilitate the standardization, integration, and hosting of satellite and marine datasets, making observational products accessible to stakeholders for sustainable marine management.
The event was chaired by CU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr. Muhammad Yahya Akhtar, with Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr. Shamim Uddin Khan and Rear Admiral Khaled Iqbal, former Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Maritime University, attending as special guests.
Key presentations were made by Dr. Tonia Capuano of Expertise France, Commodore Sheikh Firoz Ahmed of the Bangladesh Navy, and experts from Sri Lanka and Italy.
Ambassador Masdupuy reaffirmed France's dedication to ocean protection through concrete actions, highlighting the improvement of governance as outlined in the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).
She also praised Bangladesh for being among the first countries to ratify the BBNJ Agreement in September 2024.
This seminar follows previous editions of the Blue Talk series, which focused on the blue economy in November 2024 and satellite data applications in April 2025.