Protecting the marine and coastal water from land-based sources of pollution in the northern Bay of Bengal: A legal analysis for implementing a national comprehensive act

Abstract

Marine pollution has devastating impacts on marine and coastal water, including marine resources, whereas 80% of sources are from land-based activities. After the final dispute settlement with Myanmar and India in 2012 and 2014, Bangladesh got an independent marine and coastal water area in the Bay of Bengal. However, this area is polluted every day due to various sources, including land-based pollutants. As the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 emphasized the control of land-based sources pollution in the ocean by 2025 so, this article tries to explores and analyze the national and international regulations for controlling the land-based marine pollution (LMP) in Bangladesh. The article also identifies the sources and effects of land-based pollutants, including examining the challenges and weakness of the national policy framework. Finally, suggested comprehensive approach like ‘Land-based Marine Pollution Control Act (LMPCA)’ will help to minimize the marine and coastal water pollution by implementing global and regional framework.