BENEATH the rolling waves of the Bay of Bengal lies an untapped fortune, a future Bangladesh has barely begun to claim. As fertile land shrinks under the pressure of climate change, the country must see the Bay not merely as coastline but as lifeline. Its waters hold the capacity to feed 170 million people, drive sustainable growth, and build resilience against environmental shocks. The 鈥榖lue economy鈥� is no longer an option on the margins; it is the tide on which Bangladesh鈥檚 future may rise or fall.
听
From dormant resource to pillar of progress
The settlement of maritime boundary disputes with India and Myanmar gave Bangladesh sovereign authority over a vast marine frontier. The country now commands about 207,000 square kilometres of ocean, 1.4 times its landmass, yet much of this resource-rich domain remains unexplored.
Fisheries, long the emblem of the blue economy, remain a cornerstone. In 2023鈥�24 the sector contributed 2.53 per cent of gross domestic product and more than 22 per cent of agricultural GDP, supporting millions along the coast. Bangladesh produces three-quarters of the world鈥檚 Hilsa catch, with the fish alone accounting for over 1 per cent of national income and employing around 2.5 million people. But the potential reaches far beyond Hilsa. Traditional practices bring in just 0.7 million tonnes of fish each year, while estimates suggest the Bay could yield more than eight million. The gap points to enormous possibilities for modernisation and responsible exploitation.
Policy signals have started to gather momentum. The government鈥檚 recent Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (MIDA) Ordinance 2025 aims to strengthen port governance and the Navy鈥檚 operational role, while UNDP-backed initiatives such as the National Blue Economy Action Plan and experiments with 鈥榖lue bonds鈥� target sustainable fisheries, offshore energy and waste management, and seek to bridge a daunting $928 billion SDG-financing gap.
听
Blue leap
WITH strategic investment and careful stewardship, the sea could become a fulcrum for economic transformation. Marine fisheries and aquaculture remain the most immediate avenues. Expanding beyond artisanal techniques, developing value chains, and supporting women-led ventures such as seaweed farming in Cox鈥檚 Bazar could generate foreign exchange, invigorate rural livelihoods, and diversify industries from pharmaceuticals to bioenergy.
Ports and shipping present another horizon. More than 90 per cent of Bangladesh鈥檚 trade moves through Chattogram, but deep-sea facilities at Matarbari and Payra could place the country at the heart of South Asian logistics. Interest from firms such as Maersk and DP World signals that Bangladesh鈥檚 maritime infrastructure is attracting global attention.
The seabed also promises valuable reserves. Studies indicate the Bay contains 0.11鈥�0.63 trillion cubic feet of gas hydrates alongside mineral sands and rare resources, while offshore wind, tidal, and wave energy could help Bangladesh cut its dependence on imported fossil fuels. Research vessels like Meen Shandhani, together with universities and global partners, are beginning to chart this frontier, offering scope to cultivate a generation of marine scientists, engineers, and policy specialists.
听
Perils beneath surface
YET the ocean does not give up its riches without resistance. Climate pressures 鈥� rising seas, saltwater intrusion, violent cyclones 鈥� threaten coastal settlements and marine infrastructure. Overreliance on foreign expertise for technology and commercialisation exposes Bangladesh to both economic vulnerability and strategic loss. Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing undermines stocks and devastates small fishing communities. Security concerns add another layer: in 2024, the Bangladesh-flagged MV Abdullah was seized by pirates off Somalia, highlighting the risks faced by seafarers and shipping lines.
Geopolitical frictions complicate the picture further. Rival interests among India, China, Japan, Pakistan and the United States around ports such as Matarbari, Mongla and Payra raise questions about contract stability and the state鈥檚 capacity to safeguard sovereignty.
听
Call for 鈥榖lue diplomacy鈥�
BANGLADESH鈥橲 marine future ultimately depends on more than technical fixes or scattered policies. What is needed is a bold, integrated maritime strategy, underpinned by rigorous science, transparent governance and equitable benefit-sharing. Domestically, that means aligning ministries, local governments, private investors and coastal communities around sustainable use of ocean wealth. Internationally, it calls for 鈥榖lue diplomacy鈥�: forging partnerships for technology transfer, financing, enforcement against IUU fishing and resilience against climate impacts.
Harnessing the Bay of Bengal is not just an economic project but a test of statecraft. If Bangladesh can blend foresight with collaboration, its marine treasures could secure food, energy and prosperity for decades to come. The challenge is to act with urgency, coherence and respect for the fragile ecosystems that sustain life beneath the waves.
听
Sumaiya Azmi is an aspiring researcher and analyst with a background in public administration.
