International Conference on Maritime Security of Small Middle and Island Nations

Dr. Segufta Hossain, Research Director, BIISS was invited by the Consortium of South Asian Think-Tanks (COSATT) and Institute of National Security Studies (INSS), Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka to participate in the International Conference titled “Maritime Security of Small Middle and Island Nations: Between Competition Cooperation Co-existence”. The International Conference took place in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 15 – 16 May 2025. 

Panel 1 of the Conference was on “Strategic Competition in Maritime Domain: Navigating Major Power Rivalries” dealt with the strategic competition of the major powers in the maritime domain and the country specific maritime security concerns. This session was moderated by Colonel Nalin Herath, Overlooking Director General and Acting Director (Research) of INSS. There were four presentations in this session. The other speakers were, Dr. Iqbal Singh Sevea, Director, Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), National University of Singapore, Professor Terney Pradeep Kumara, Director General, Department of Coastal Conservation and Coastal Resource Management, Sri Lanka, Mr. Chiran Jung Thapa, Regional Security Advisor of Oxfam International, Nepal.  Dr Hossain participated in this session and presented on “Strategic Competition in Maritime Domains: Bangladesh and Its Maritime Security Concerns”. In the presentation, she portrayed the strategic importance of the maritime domain for Bangladesh, regional maritime disputes and the standpoint of Bangladesh in the maritime dispute of the region. I have focused on the maritime security concerns of the country, as the country faces both traditional and non-traditional maritime security threats, as well as the key areas on which Bangladesh needs to focus for ensuring maritime security of the country.