Bay of Bengal at risk of survival

Bangladesh stands at the confluence of two insecurities: the climate crisis and maritime risks in the Bay of Bengal. One is born of a warming planet; the other of porous seas where piracy, illegal fishing, trafficking and disasters collide. For Bangladesh, these are not parallel challenges-they are one and demand same survival strategy.

 

 

Few countries are as exposed to climate change as Bangladesh. Rising seas, frequent cyclones, and saline intrusion threaten livelihoods in the south. Studies estimate that up to 13 million people may be displaced internally by 2050. This is not a distant forecast but a present reality: coastal villages already face forced migration, and storms such as Amphan (2020) and Remal (2024) illustrate the mounting costs.

 

 

 

At COP30 in Brazil this November, Bangladesh must speak with urgency and unity. Within the G77 and the LDC group, Dhaka's demand should be simple: timely access to climate finance, especially from the Loss and Damage Fund. Funds pledged must translate into disbursement, with accountability and speed. For a country where climate resilience is national security, finance delayed is survival denied.

 

 

The blue economy and its vulnerabilities: The Bay of Bengal is more than water; it is Bangladesh's economic lifeline. Fisheries, shipping lanes, energy prospects, and ports all tie into national growth. But these opportunities are under siege.

 

 

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing depletes stocks; piracy and armed robbery remain persistent threats; and trafficking routes cut through porous seas. Without security, the promise of the blue economy collapses.

 

 

Marine spatial planning, stronger coast guard capacity, and transparent monitoring of catches are essential steps. At the same time, port efficiency must improve. Chattogram and Mongla still lag regional peers in container handling. Investment in automation, digital logistics and the Bay Terminal project are not luxuries-they are prerequisites if Bangladesh is to remain competitive in the Indo-Pacific trade corridor: The Bay of Bengal demands regional cooperation that rises above rhetoric. A Climate-Maritime Compact among Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives could synchronise early-warning systems, standardise climate-resilient port infrastructure, and conduct joint patrols against IUU fishing. Cyclones, tidal surges and trafficking routes do not stop at borders. Neither should resilience.

 

 

BIMSTEC and IORA already provide platforms; what is missing is political will and operationalisation. By linking climate adaptation with maritime security, a regional compact can make cooperation tangible.

 

 

Global partners and responsibilities ; The United States, the European Union, Japan and Australia-all present in the Indo-Pacific-have a role to play. Climate finance, renewable energy investment, and technology transfer must be part of their engagement with Bangladesh. Security cooperation, too, can extend to training, joint exercises and intelligence-sharing.

 

 

Handled as a package, climate diplomacy and maritime security can become the new anchor of Bangladesh's external partnerships. Treated in silos, they risk becoming empty talking points.

 

For Bangladesh, climate resilience and maritime security are not parallel agendas-they are one survival strategy."

 

 

The way forward: The road ahead must be sequenced clearly. First, fast-track access to climate finance, especially the Loss and Damage Fund. Second, intensify surveillance of IUU fishing and piracy while modernizing port operations. Third, formalise a Climate-Maritime Compact with regional neighbours to share both data and duties.

 

Lastly, align global partnerships with Bangladesh's dual priorities of resilience and security. Bangladesh cannot afford to view climate diplomacy as prestige or maritime security as a side issue.

 

 

Together, they form the foundation of survival and prosperity. The Bay of Bengal is not only where risks converge-it is where strategy must begin. For Bangladesh, survival as strategy means turning climate urgency and maritime security into one coherent national and regional agenda. Only then can the country transform the tides of vulnerability
into currents of resilience.