By S. Habib

‘Bay of Bengal’ is the name of pride and honor for Bengalis. Although large cities like Madras (Chennai), Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, in all areas or states, is located on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, but it was not named after them. Again, it was not named after a region like the Arabian Sea, but in the middle of Myanmar, Andaman Islands, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the vast territory of South Asia, the reservoir of 2.162 million square kilometers is named after Bengal. It is known to the world as the Bay of Bengal after Bengal or Bangladesh.

Bangladesh policy is not towards bipartisan international politics. Bangladesh has remained an active member of the ‘Non-Aligned Movement’ having least intention and interest to join any bloc but to be benefitted from the blocs. Bangladesh wants and believes in peaceful coexistence in the region. Despite having provocation from Myanmar during the Rohingya refugee crisis in 2017, it abstained from using any kind of force to avoid any kind of clash with any actor.

Since The Bay of Bengal has now become the centre of international politics due to its economic and strategic importance but in fact it extends to the bottom of Sri Lanka. It is the busiest international shipping route in the world. About 40,000 ships ply this route each year. Half of the world’s goods and fuel vessels use this route.  So USA has also headed to Bangladesh strategically in this regard. The ultimate goal of these strategic relations with Bangladesh is Bay of Bengal.

To engage Bangladesh in US-Bangladesh strategic relations in concern with Bay of Bengal, US has taken many steps keeping future in view. The US felt the need for signing two agreements, Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, or ACSA, and General Security of Military Information Agreement, or GSOMIA, in order to get involved in Bangladesh defense system as the two countries were considering taking already established defense cooperation to an advanced level. Hence It appeared to the US authorities from the Bangladesh Forces Goal-2030 that the country ‘is going to modernize its military’ by procuring sophisticated military hardware, including missile system and attack helicopters. The US put great stress in order to engage Bangladesh as an according to an official of US these two agreements are foundations for protecting information on defense cooperation as they are required by law that information with strategic elements are protected. Recently, The United States authorities were in negotiations on signing Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, or ACSA, and General Security of Military Information Agreement, or GSOMIA, for facilitating transfer of advanced defense articles to Bangladesh. GSOMIA is also negotiated on a bilateral basis. It is a reciprocal, legally-binding agreement that ensures governments understand and commit to protect classified military information at an equivalent level of security. On 31 January 2022, US ambassador in Dhaka Earl Miller disclosed after a meeting with foreign minister AK Abdul Momen that the US proposed Bangladesh to buy defense articles from the country on competitive prices.

Moreover, Bangladesh is being involved in the US-led Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS). It also mirrors the previous strategy in discussing the need to strengthen U.S. alliances, reaffirm America’s role as an “Indo-Pacific power,” enhance the “Quad,” support India’s rise, expand Coast Guard activities in the region, host a summit with ASEAN leaders, and prioritize signing new Compacts of Free Association (COFAs) with the Pacific Islands. In the corresponding year, the US provided $5.3 million to cover the total cost of procurement and delivery of five Metal Shark boats to support the maritime security objectives of Bangladesh Navy.  The US also provided $3.3 million last year to send 233 members of the Bangladesh military to attend various military professionalization courses within the US and the wider Indo-Pacific region.

Despite this all, Bangladesh is trying to handle these fragmentations tactically by avoiding involvement with the blocs directly despite having a request from the USA for years; Bangladesh didn’t show any interest to sign ACSA (Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement) and GSOMIA (General Security of Military Information Agreement) agreements with the USA. On the other hand, When the Chinese Envoy to Bangladesh commented that Bangladesh shouldn’t join IPS this year, Bangladesh strongly protested against the remarks uttered by Chinese envoy saying Bangladesh is capable of forming its own national policy which is the capability of Bangladesh. Basically, the aim and objective of Bangladesh is very simple and clear which is friendship to all, malice to none.

The involvement of US in Bangladesh’s defense and military clearly depicts the intentions of US which are highly concerned in Bay of Bengal as US is seeking its own maritime security by engaging Bangladesh in order to combat any future challenge in maritime politics. Moreover, the US led Indo-Pacific Strategy is another way forward for US in Bangladesh for maritime politics which could strengthen US in this region. Bangladesh must be aware of the policies and the strategies imposed by the extra regional actors before joining them, proposed by any bloc in the region. As IPS is concerned, Bangladesh must think to ensure peace and the rule of law in the maritime region in order to reap the maximum economic benefits from the Bay of Bengal before joining it. Bangladesh needs to acquire natural resources as well as the ability to catch fish from the deep sea. If it is possible, it will open the way for Bangladesh to earn huge amount of foreign exchange just like fish and mineral garments. Hence, the Bangladesh’s top priority which is the economic ‘development’ could be acquired easily.