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Beyond the Bay ...

of this convention in settling her maritime disputes amicably with the neighbours
in demarcating various maritime areas and zones. While the related individual
experts and the political leadership involved in the process of dispute settlement
deserve special appreciation, the author of this article feels that that has been a
good start and now can be used as a springboard for additional mission(s) to be
accomplished in the expanse of the IO. Specially in line with the UNCLOS III
and the context of various activities, exploration, exploitation, or recovery of the
living and nonliving resources including solid, liquid, or gaseous mineral plus
polymetallic nodules of the ‘high seas’ (UNCLOS III Part VII), ‘freedom of
scientific research’ (UNCLOS III Part VI and XIII), the Area (UNCLOS III Part
XI) as the ‘common heritage of mankind’ (UNCLOS III Part XI, Section 2,
Article 136) including protection and preservation of the marine environment
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(Part XII) need due consideration.
The adage goes like: “pick the low-hanging fruit”! Now then the country
has determined her sea areas, Bangladesh needs to lay a comprehensive plan to
harvest from the opportunities given by the UNCLOS III well beyond the Bay of
Bengal deep into the IO. And if others are sharing the ‘fruits’ even of the polar
region, why Bangladesh should not, can be a legitimate question. In this regard,
it is also of utmost importance to articulate and align both vertically and
horizontally the vision, mission(s), objective(s), strategy (ies) and action plan(s)
-the VMOSA of different maritime organizations of the country selecting or
establishing the lead agency. That brings a pointed discussion towards the vital
need of a ‘Maritime Division’ under the PM’s office.
Sino-Indian Realpolitik of The IO

Admiral Prof Jaynath Colombage, former chief of Sri Lanka navy and the
current director of Pathfinder Foundation, Sri Lanka, describes the IOR in six
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words: “Strategic Competition, Strategic Convergence, Strategic Dilemma”.
What is meant by these six words are that the region is no longer a ‘benign
region’, or ‘Indian Ocean Zone of Peace’ (IOZOP) spirit no longer exists. Rather
it is a ‘contested region’ moving from unipolarity to multipolarity amidst
promotion of own national interest vis-à-vis security dilemma of the region.

10. http://legal.un.org/avl/ha/uncls/uncls.html, accessed on 04 Dec 2018.
11. Quoted from the International Seminar on Good Governance towards Sustainable Development Keynote Speech on the
topic: Maritime Good Governance and Sustainable Development: The Conceptual Perspective on 19 Nov 2018, Dhaka,
Bangladesh.

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