The Bangladesh government is planning to establish a specialized public university in Cox’s Bazar focusing on the country’s growing blue economy, marine resources and coastal development.
The proposed institution, to be named the University of Blue Economy Sciences and Technology (UBEST), would focus on higher education, research, practical training and developing skilled professionals for Bangladesh’s marine and coastal sectors.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed the Ministry of Education to take steps toward establishing the university, following a proposal from Home Minister and Cox’s Bazar-1 lawmaker Salahuddin Ahmed. The minister submitted a semi-official letter to the prime minister on September 13 and later shared the initiative on his verified Facebook page.
Using BORI facilities for the initial phase
The proposal suggests using the existing facilities of the Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (BORI) in Cox’s Bazar to begin UBEST’s academic and practical activities.
According to the proposal, building a completely new university from scratch would require significant time, funding and infrastructure. BORI already has research facilities, laboratories, scientific personnel and a coastal research environment that could support the university during its initial phase.
The approach could allow the government to begin specialized education and research activities more quickly while making better use of existing national research infrastructure.
Possible areas of study
The proposed university could cover a wide range of subjects linked to the blue economy, including:
- Oceanography and marine science
- Fisheries and aquaculture
- Marine and coastal environment
- Coastal resource management
- Marine data and technology
- Blue economy
- Tourism and hospitality
The university could also provide practical training, research and internship opportunities connected to marine and coastal industries.
Focus on Bangladesh’s marine economy
Bangladesh has significant marine and coastal resources in the Bay of Bengal, supporting fisheries, aquaculture, coastal communities, tourism and other economic activities.
Prof Dr Md Shahadat Hossain, Dean of the Faculty of Marine Sciences and Fisheries at the University of Chattogram, said the Bay of Bengal is important to Bangladesh’s economy, biodiversity and livelihoods.
He said a specialized university could strengthen research, innovation and skilled human resources while supporting areas such as marine resource management, coastal development, fisheries, marine spatial planning, pollution control and climate resilience.
Proposal moves toward implementation
Reports indicate that following the prime minister’s directive, the Ministry of Education has forwarded relevant documents to the University Grants Commission (UGC) for further action.
If established, UBEST would become a dedicated higher-education platform for Bangladesh’s marine and coastal sectors, potentially bringing education, research and practical skills development closer to the country’s Bay of Bengal resources.
For Bangladesh, the proposed university could also create a stronger link between marine science, fisheries and aquaculture, technology, environmental management and the wider blue economy.
