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The International Centre for Ocean Governance (ICOG), University of Dhaka, hosted an important meeting with an international marine environment expert to explore opportunities for strengthening cooperation in maritime security, ocean governance, marine management, and conservation in the Bay of Bengal
The meeting was presided over by Dr. K. M. Azam Chowdhury, Director, ICOG. Dr. Tonia Astrid Capuano, Visiting Scientist, ICOG, and Mr. Alain PIBOT, Marine Environment Expert, Regional Centre for Maritime Studies (RCMS), were also present at the meeting.
The discussion focused on several critical aspects of Bangladesh’s marine sector, particularly maritime security, ocean governance, ocean management, and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Bay of Bengal. The participants emphasized the importance of strengthening scientific cooperation and institutional capacity to address emerging challenges associated with sustainable marine resource management and ocean governance.
During the meeting, both sides discussed the potential for marine collaboration between ICOG and RCMS. The proposed areas of cooperation include joint research, scientific knowledge exchange, technical cooperation, and collaborative activities related to marine environmental management and ocean governance.
A key outcome of the discussion was the proposal to establish a formal institutional partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ICOG and RCMS. The proposed MoU would provide a framework for developing future joint research activities and strengthening cooperation between the two organizations.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of international and interdisciplinary collaboration in promoting sustainable management of the Bay of Bengal. Through collaborative research and knowledge sharing, ICOG and RCMS aim to contribute to improved understanding and management of marine resources and ecosystems.
The meeting concluded with a positive outlook for future collaboration between ICOG and RCMS. The proposed partnership is expected to create opportunities for joint research, capacity building, scientific exchange, and policy-oriented activities, contributing to Bangladesh’s efforts toward sustainable ocean governance and Blue Economy development
