EMERGING STRATEGIC LANDSCAPE IN THE BAY OF BENGAL AND MARITIME CAPABILITY BUILDING OF BANGLADESH

This article analyzes the emerging strategic landscape in the Bay of Bengal and its implications for the maritime capability building of Bangladesh. It argues that the Bay of Bengal is transforming into a new arena of geopolitical and geo-economic competition, with the growing naval presence of major powers like India, China, and the United States. The study examines the key features of this new strategic environment, including the competition over sea lines of communication and energy resources. The research then focuses on the implications for Bangladesh, a key littoral state. The paper argues that to protect its sovereignty and to secure its growing maritime economic interests, a significant and sustained effort in maritime capability building is a national security imperative. This includes the modernization of the Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard and the development of a comprehensive maritime domain awareness system. The analysis concludes that a credible maritime capability is essential for Bangladesh to effectively navigate the new and more complex strategic realities of the Bay of Bengal.

The Bay of Bengal, long considered a strategic backwater, is rapidly emerging as a new and critical arena of international power politics. This paper provides a detailed analysis of this new strategic landscape and its implications for Bangladesh. The study begins by mapping out the key geopolitical trends that are shaping the region. This includes the rise of India as a major naval power seeking to establish its dominance in its maritime backyard, and the growing strategic footprint of China, with its "string of pearls" strategy and its increasing naval presence. The paper also discusses the role of the United States and its "pivot to Asia." The core of the article is an analysis of what this new great power competition means for a littoral state like Bangladesh. It argues that the changing strategic environment creates both challenges and opportunities. The primary challenge is the risk of being caught in the middle of these rivalries. The primary opportunity is the potential to leverage this new strategic importance to advance its own national interests. The findings lead to a clear and urgent conclusion: Bangladesh must invest in building its own maritime capabilities. The paper calls for a comprehensive "Forces Goal 2030" for the maritime sector, a long-term plan for the modernization and expansion of the navy and coast guard. It argues that a strong and credible maritime capability is not for aggression, but is the essential prerequisite for a confident and independent foreign policy that can effectively secure Bangladesh's sovereignty and its vast maritime resources in a more contested future.