BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

MARITIME SECURITY CHALLENGES FOR BANGLADESH: RESPONSE OPTIONS

Author: Moutusi Islam

DOI Link: https://www.doi.org/10.56888/BIISSj2019v40n3a3

ABSTRACT

The paper is an attempt to identify and analyze the maritime security challenges that are faced by Bangladesh and the possible response options. Maritime security is a vital issue in the contemporary world. It has become multipronged as against the earlier narrow view of defence against military attacks and the protection of a nation’s sovereignty at sea. Bangladesh faces many maritime security challenges that have both traditional and non-traditional characteristics such as great power rivalry; piracy and armed robbery; trafficking of arms, drugs and people; illegal fishing and poaching; marine pollution; natural disasters and climate change; and finally, resource management. Therefore, Bangladesh needs to focus on developing effective capacity building in areas i.e., regulatory frameworks, institutional structures, human resource, technology and infrastructure, maritime diplomacy, with a view to ensuring its maritime security.