MM Rahmatullah: External powers could create instability in the Bay of Bengal if they choose to do so, making vigilance and regional cooperation essential to keeping the strategically important maritime region peaceful and secure, speakers said on Monday.

They made the observations at a discussion titled “Why the Bay of Bengal Matters to the World” on the final day of the three-day Bay of Bengal Conversation 2026, organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.
The discussion was held ahead of the closing remarks by CGS President Zillur Rahman.
Former Pakistani Foreign Secretary and Chairman of the Sanobar Institute Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhury said the Bay of Bengal, like other important maritime areas in Asia, must closely monitor the changing global geopolitical landscape.
“The Bay of Bengal lies at the heart of the Indian Ocean,” he said, noting the growing geopolitical competition surrounding the Indo-Pacific.
Referring to the United States’ Indo-Pacific strategy, Chaudhury said many in China view it as a “containment policy against China”.
He also pointed to changes in Chinese maritime trade routes, saying a portion of China’s trade with Asia and Europe had been rerouted amid the evolving geopolitical environment and the growing discussion of a Eurasian partnership.
The former diplomat warned that the situation in other strategically important waterways could have serious implications for the Bay of Bengal.
“The Bab-el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz are already under strain,” he said, questioning what could happen if the Strait of Malacca were also affected by geopolitical tensions.
Such a development would have major consequences for countries bordering the Bay of Bengal, he said, urging regional countries to work together to prevent conflicts that could have wider repercussions, particularly in West Asia.
Chaudhury said Pakistan recognised the importance of the Bay of Bengal community because international trade routes must remain open and unhindered.
“Our goods are also transported through the Indian Ocean. As a result, keeping this region peaceful and safe for maritime trade is in our shared collective interest,” he said.
Pradeep K Taneja, Senior Lecturer in Asian Studies at the University of Melbourne, Australia, said the possibility of external powers creating trouble in the Bay of Bengal remained an ever-present risk.
However, he stressed that the extent to which such risks could materialise would depend largely on the alertness and preparedness of countries in the region, including Bangladesh.
Any conflict, instability or chaos in the Bay of Bengal would ultimately hurt all regional countries, he said.
“I believe the people and leaders of Bangladesh are well aware of their national interests,” Taneja said.
The speakers stressed that maintaining peace in the Bay of Bengal is not only a security concern but also an economic necessity, given the region’s importance to international trade, connectivity and maritime transportation.
Ambassador of Denmark to Bangladesh Christian Brix Møller focused on the economic opportunities arising from Bangladesh’s strategic geographical position on the Bay of Bengal.
He said Denmark and Bangladesh could develop stronger partnerships to make better use of Bangladesh’s location and expand cooperation in areas linked to the maritime economy.
Bangladesh should diversify its export base, he said, identifying shipbuilding and ship recycling as promising sectors alongside pharmaceuticals.
The Danish envoy highlighted the close economic relationship between the two countries, saying Denmark is Bangladesh’s largest export destination on a per-capita basis and that Danish investments are present in several sectors in Bangladesh.
He also referred to the changing global economic and security environment following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we have had to increase our defence spending, which necessitated a reduction in certain development assistance,” he said.
His remarks underscored the wider impact of geopolitical conflicts on development cooperation and international economic relations.
John K. Glenn, Professorial Lecturer at George Washington University in the United States, agreed with the assessment that the old world order had broken down.
However, he said discussions should not stop at recognising the emergence of a new order.
The key question was what would come next, he said, stressing that simply endorsing a new international order would not be sufficient.
His comments came amid broader discussions at the forum on shifting global power relations and their implications for the Bay of Bengal and the wider Indo-Pacific.
Shiuneen Rasheed, High Commissioner of the Maldives to Bangladesh, was among the other speakers at the session.
The participation of representatives from Pakistan, Australia, Denmark, the United States and the Maldives reflected the growing international interest in the Bay of Bengal and its strategic, economic and geopolitical significance.
The discussions highlighted a common message: the Bay of Bengal must not become another theatre of great-power rivalry.
For Bangladesh and other littoral states, keeping the waters peaceful, protecting maritime trade and maintaining open sea routes are matters of direct national and regional interest. The speakers therefore called for greater regional awareness, cooperation and collective efforts to prevent geopolitical tensions from spilling into the Bay of Bengal.