Blue Economy and Maritime Cooperation in the Bay of Bengal: Role of Bangladesh

Abstract

The concept ‘blue economy’ refers to ocean based economies. It encompasses conservation in tandem with sustainable usages of maritime resources through seamless and integrate spatial planning. Blue economy transforms the ocean resources into development instruments. In latter days, the realm of Bay of Bengal has veered into a synonym of economic and strategic significance. Settlement of maritime boundary disputes and the potentials of blue economy prospects are spearheading its littoral states for economic growth. However, like other ocean regions, the Bay of Bengal is also rigged with the problems of IUU fishing, marine pollution, ineffective marine regulation and the non-traditional security menace.The proposed paper endeavours to analyse how Bangladesh, as one of the littoral states of the Bay of Bengal region, is responding to the challenges of ocean governance and revving up initiatives to garner blue economy benefits from the Bay of Bengal. The article also highlights the vista and potentials of regional cooperation in the blue economy related areas such as regulation of coastal marine environment; marine protected areas; maritime safety as well as security of ports and sea lanes of communication.