BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

MARITIME DESTINY OF BANGLADESH: ENTWINING CHALLENGES

Author: Abul Kalam

DOI Link: https://www.doi.org/10.56888/BIISSj2016v37n1a2

ABSTRACT

Bangladesh won two successive international verdicts over its maritime claims with neighbouring Myanmar and India. The verdicts granted Bangladesh 200 nautical miles of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Bay of Bengal (BoB). Its continental shelf now extends up to 354 nautical miles, with sovereign rights on all living and mineral resources. All this added to the country’s panoramic maritime domain, indubitably huge areas. Consequently, for business-related concerns, economic reasons and sustained development, the country’s new maritime space warrant measures for ensuring its destiny. Some vital concerns remain: knowledge on the resources beneath the marine/seabed or at the aquatic level; the country’s ability, skills and technology to access the resources or even its awareness of how to utilise the resources to its advantage; and, finally, the choices or means accessible for its maritime space or establishing its sway in its maritime domain. All such concerns call for rational analysis and reflection. How Bangladesh could countenance and meet the challenges of utilising its maritime spheres towards serving its overriding interests? In dealing with challenges facing the nation and actions required, the paper analyses some selected sectors that are entwined, keeping in view the conceptual-analytical trends in maritime studies. It pleads for futuristic planning and meticulous execution of neatly considered planning choices to ensure the nation a maritime destiny keeping matters of policy relevance in perspectives.