Dhaka, April 17 -- Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday laid emphasis on the need for responsible and sustainable ocean management.

He was speaking to the high-level panel of foreign ministers at the 9th Our Ocean Conference in Athens, UNB reports citing an official release.

Dr Hasan, who is also an environmentalist, pointed the need for adopting holistic approach to balance between sustainable management of ocean for environmental conservation and socioeconomic development of people living in the proximity of ocean.

He highlighted the initiatives taken by Bangladesh, a country with a long maritime border and history, under the able leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to ensure sustainable ocean management and utilisat...