Marine Pollution and Sustainable Blue Economy in the Bay of Bengal: Challenges and Opportunities for Bangladesh

The Bay of Bengal (BoB) is a vital natural resource supporting the blue economy of Bangladesh, embracing fisheries, terminals, shipbuilding /shipbreaking, sea tourism and ecosystem services. Nevertheless, marine pollution is on the rise from land- and sea-based sources in the region. The objective of this paper is to synthesize recent research about the major vectors that deliver pollution to oceans and create deteriorating conditions for marine life including some commercial fishing operators as well as any proven beneficial ocean fertilization including key vectors plastics and microplastics, oil and chemical contaminants, nutrient loadings and heavy metals. It evaluates environmental and socio-economic consequences, governance instruments constraints or opportunities for pollution mitigation pathways to directly address sustainable blue growth. These include case studies of shipbreaking and the toxic legacies thereof in Chattogram, mangrove restoration in the Sundarbans as a nature-based adaptive response, and district-level plastic leakage and circular economy interventions. Finally, the paper provides policy recommendations in respect of land-sea integration governance, financial mechanisms, technology and capacity building, community inclusivity strategies to conserve Bangladesh coastal and marine environment for the benefit of future generations.