Published: 01:28 AM, 23 November 2025
Education With Maritime Underpinnings: Bangladesh Must Not Fall Behind Global Academic Pace
Humans depend on the ocean, whether we live near or far from it. But to what extent are citizens aware of the state of the oceans and their environmental, economic, political, medical and cultural importance?
The essence of ocean literacy is to know and understand the ocean’s influence on us, and our influence on the ocean, as a fundamental concept for living and acting sustainably. Marine literacy helps to raise public awareness and gives us the tools to make responsible decisions about our environmental impacts, public policies and maritime activities.
Ocean literacy connects all spheres of society. It demonstrates the value of ocean science for sustainable economy and policy, helping to create a common basis of understanding, and a common set of shared values. This is essential for stakeholders jointly addressing complex issues that characterize the marine environment and support decisions on sustainable environmental management and a sustainable blue economy.
In the early 2000s, the ocean literacy framework was developed and has since been adopted by various scientific sectors of oceanography and marine research.
The UN Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development 2021-2030, implemented by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, proposed marine literacy as a means to engage with stakeholders and determine common understanding and joint identification of solutions towards sustainability. In addition to strengthening dialogue and engagement between science and policy, marine literacy also helps to reach out to sectors and disciplines outside the traditional ones of marine science or marine economics and management, from arts and culture to sports and leisure.
Maritime literacy is a broad term that encompasses the knowledge, skills, and understanding needed to interact with and comprehend the maritime world, including its practical, economic, environmental and cultural aspects. It involves understanding the influence of the ocean on us and our influence on the ocean, which is essential for making informed, responsible decisions about marine activities and resources. This can range from specific vocational training like seamanship and navigation to a general public awareness of the ocean's importance for climate, food and a sustainable blue economy.
This includes practical skills like navigation, boat handling, and safety, as well as an understanding of topics such as seamanship, petroleum rigging and communication. This is a crucial component, focusing on the ocean's fundamental importance to the planet and human society. It involves understanding how the ocean influences us and how we influence the ocean.
Maritime literacy calls for an understanding of how to use the ocean's resources and opportunities sustainably, which is vital for a sustainable blue economy and the protection of marine ecosystems.
Ocean basins are composed of the seafloor and all of its geological features (such as islands, trenches, mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys) and vary in size, shape and features due to the movement of Earth’s crust. Earth’s highest peaks, deepest valleys and flattest vast plains are all in the oceans.
The oceans are connected to major lakes, watersheds and waterways because all major watersheds on Earth drain to the ocean. Rivers and streams transport nutrients, salts, sediments and pollutants from watersheds to estuaries and to the oceans.
Throughout the ocean there is one interconnected circulation system powered by wind, tides, the force of Earth’s rotation, the sun, and water density differences. The shape of ocean basins and adjacent land masses influence the path of circulation. This ‘global ocean conveyor belt’ moves water throughout all of the ocean’s basins, transporting energy (heat), matter, and organisms around the ocean. Changes in ocean circulation have a large impact on the climate and cause changes in ecosystems.
It envisages recognizing the oceans’ economic, political, medical and cultural importance and its role in providing essential services like food, oxygen and energy. Maritime literacy empowers individuals and society to make informed and responsible decisions regarding marine activities and resource use. It provides a foundation for addressing complex issues and promoting a sustainable blue economy.
By raising public awareness of human impacts on the ocean, it promotes conservation and the responsible use of marine environments. It can provide a pathway to future employment and educational opportunities in the maritime sector.
The Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian National University’s National Security College and Bangladesh Institute of Maritime Research and Development (BIMRAD) jointly organized a vibrant workshop on maritime domain awareness with special emphasis on the Indian Ocean region from 16 to 18 November 2025 in the capital Dhaka city.
Chief of Staff of Bangladesh Navy Admiral M. Nazmul Hassan attended the event as the chief guest. On the other hand, Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Susan Ryle and BIMRAD Chairman Rear Admiral Mir Ershad Ali graced the program as special guests.
Navy officers from France, Australia, New Zealand, India and Sri Lanka attended the workshop and put forward their visions, ideas and experiences in alignment with different maritime trajectories during the program.
Professor Dr. David Brewster, Senior Research Fellow of Australian National University addressed the workshop sharing with the audiences his findings and institutional explorations on maritime phenomena. Academic scholars from the United States of America joined the event too. Officers belonging to Australian Border Force and Australian Maritime Border Command also participated in the workshop.
BIMRAD Director General Commodore (Retd) Syed Misbah Uddin Ahmad talked about his own military career in Bangladesh Navy with special references to research work, foreign trade, international maritime diplomacy, Blue Economy, maritime industries etcetera. The speakers at the workshop also spoke on illegal migration and narcotic cartels which are currently major maritime threats. Incorporating maritime literature and nautical fiction in universities across Bangladesh was also suggested by some discussants. Officers from Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Air Force, university intellectuals and media professionals attended the workshop among some other invited guests. The Australian government, Australian National University, Bangladesh Navy and BIMRAD deserve applause for bringing together military officers, climate experts, domain specific university teachers and journalists on one undivided convergence where valuable observations, scholarhood, perceptions, strategic views, suggestions and research findings were comprehensively shared with one another.
Maritime learning will also sharpen our skills to fight gun smuggling, human trafficking, narcotics gangs, piracy etcetera. Combating plastic pollution is another huge prerequisite these days for ecological sustenance. Maritime knowledge and dexterity will further bolster our capability to restrain environmental defilements.
We can’t afford the luxury of further vacillating over the point of familiarizing Bangladesh’s students, teachers, media professionals and other stakeholders with the essence and fundamental imperatives of maritime literacy for our own learning enhancement and adding affluence to Bangladesh’s economy with maritime innovations and the indispensability of Blue Economy.
Mahfuz Ul Hasib Chowdhury
is a contributor to different
English newspapers and magazines.
