SECURING THE BLUE FRONTIER : ACCOUNTING FOR NON-TRADITIONAL MARITIME SECURITY CHALLENGES FOR BANGLADESH

Abstract

Bangladesh’s maritime domain, commonly known as the nation’s blue frontier, has grown in importance from a strategic and economic standpoint. Fisheries, offshore energy, maritime trade, and coastal tourism are all areas of the Bay of Bengal’s blue economy that have enormous potential to boost national and regional economic growth. However, trans-border, multi-sectoral risks known as non-traditional security (NTS) are becoming a greater challenge to the region. These include human trafficking, piracy, maritime pollution, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, rising sea levels brought on by climate change, and the deterioration of coastal ecosystems. Bangladesh must now simultaneously address these multifaceted risks as it seeks to capitalize on the economic potential of its maritime resources. The challenge in the domain is to keep balance between security and sustainable economic growth. Effective management of NTS threats is further hampered by inadequate maritime governance, conflicting institutional mandates, a lack of data, and modest technological capability. In addition to analyzing national responses in relation to regional cooperation frameworks like IORA, BIMSTEC, and SAARC, this journal offers a critical examination of the evolving aspects of maritime security in Bangladesh. Case examples such as the oil disaster in the Sundarbans, the marine trafficking of Rohingya, and the reaction to cyclones demonstrate the urgent need for coordinated maritime policies. The journal will endeavor to necessitate an all-encompassing strategy that incorporates interagency coordination, environmental resilience, and international collaboration. In addition to proactive diplomacy, enhancing Bangladesh’s maritime capabilities will be essential to transforming the blue frontier into a hub for sustainability, peace, and shared prosperity