Published: 12:51 AM, 01 September 2026
Integrated State Initiatives Required for Coastal Protection
Shafiqul Islam Khokon
Bangladesh’s coast is far more than a geographical boundary. It is a vital foundation of the nation’s economy, food security, fisheries, biodiversity and climate resilience. Yet millions of coastal residents live with the constant threats of cyclones, storm surges, river erosion, salinity, climate change and insecurity at sea.
More than five decades after independence, Bangladesh still lacks an integrated administrative framework dedicated to the long-term development and protection of its coastal region. Different ministries and agencies undertake important projects, but their efforts often remain fragmented. The challenges facing the coast, however, are interconnected and require a unified national strategy.
For this reason, the time has come to seriously consider establishing a Ministry of Coastal Affairs, a Coastal Development Board, specialized Coastal Police Stations, a Fishermen Protection Act, Coastal Courts and a Coastal Bank, alongside modern maritime safety and insurance systems.
Ministry of Coastal Affairs: A Hub for Integrated Policy
Bangladesh’s coastal belt is strategically important to the national economy, environment, food security, blue economy and national security. Yet responsibility for coastal affairs is divided among numerous institutions, including the ministries and agencies responsible for water resources, disaster management, fisheries, environment and forests, shipping and local government.
Each institution has its own mandate, but this fragmented system can create gaps in planning, budgeting and implementation. An embankment project, for example, may be developed without adequately integrating fisheries, environmental conservation, biodiversity or local livelihood concerns.
A dedicated Ministry of Coastal Affairs could bring these concerns under a coordinated policy framework. It could formulate long-term coastal policies, coordinate inter-ministerial activities, strengthen disaster preparedness and recovery, promote climate adaptation, and ensure more effective use of international climate finance and development assistance.
The ministry could also oversee integrated programs for sustainable embankments, cyclone shelters, drinking water, salinity control, river erosion, climate-induced displacement, fishermen’s rights and resilient infrastructure.
If Bangladesh can maintain a dedicated ministry for the Chittagong Hill Tracts covering three districts, there is a strong argument for a specialized ministry serving the country’s much larger and strategically vital coastal region.
Coastal Development Board: Architect of Sustainable Growth
Alongside a ministry, Bangladesh needs an institution responsible for translating policy into coordinated development programs. A Coastal Development Board, modeled in broad terms on the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board, could fulfill this role.
The board could coordinate sustainable embankment construction and maintenance, modern cyclone shelters, fish landing centres, cold storage and processing facilities, alternative livelihood programs, safe drinking water, erosion prevention and post-disaster rehabilitation.
Development planning must also involve coastal communities themselves. Local fishermen, farmers, women, entrepreneurs and other residents understand the realities of the region and should have a meaningful role in determining priorities.
Such an approach would ensure that coastal development is not simply infrastructure-driven but people-centered, environmentally sustainable and economically productive.
Coastal Police Stations: Security Where It Matters Most
Law enforcement at sea presents challenges that are fundamentally different from those on land. Piracy, illegal fishing, maritime boundary disputes, trafficking, theft of fishing nets, attacks on fishermen and damage to vessels require specialized knowledge and rapid response.
Victims can sometimes face jurisdictional confusion when attempting to report incidents occurring at sea. Delays in determining which police station has responsibility can hinder investigation and access to justice.
Existing police stations in coastal areas could therefore be transformed, where appropriate, into specialized Coastal Police Stations, with trained personnel and modern vessels, GPS, radar, drones and advanced communication systems.
These units should work closely with the Bangladesh Navy, Coast Guard, River Police, Department of Fisheries and local administration. Their responsibilities should include law enforcement, maritime monitoring, search and rescue, emergency response and protection of fishing communities.
A specialized coastal policing system would strengthen not only public safety but also the security of Bangladesh’s marine resources and emerging blue economy.
Fishermen Protection Act: Protecting Those Who Feed the Nation
Bangladeshi fishermen make an enormous contribution to food security and the national economy, yet their profession remains among the country’s most dangerous.
Cyclones, accidents, piracy, vessel failures, extreme weather and maritime boundary complications can result in death, injury or disappearance. When a fisherman disappears at sea, his family can face years of uncertainty and serious legal and financial difficulties.
A comprehensive Fishermen Protection Act should formally recognize the legal status of missing fishermen and establish clear procedures for search and rescue, compensation, insurance, medical care and family rehabilitation.
The law should also provide for safety training, modern life-saving equipment, reliable weather warnings, vessel registration and identification systems. Families of fishermen detained after unintentionally crossing foreign maritime boundaries should receive legal assistance, diplomatic support and interim financial relief.
Protecting fishermen must be treated as a matter of workers’ rights, human dignity and national food security—not merely as a fisheries-sector issue.
Technology-Driven Safety at Sea
Modern technology can significantly reduce the risks faced by fishermen.
Fishing vessels should gradually be required to carry GPS and satellite tracking systems, Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs), two-way communication equipment and reliable weather-warning technology. A digital system should record how many people leave on each vessel and confirm their safe return.
Such systems would enable authorities to identify a vessel’s location quickly during storms, accidents or security incidents. Small and medium-scale fishermen, however, should not be excluded because of cost. Government subsidies, training and financial assistance will be necessary.
A 24-hour maritime emergency network linking the Coast Guard, Navy, Department of Fisheries, Meteorological Department and local administration could greatly improve rescue operations and disaster response.
Coastal Courts: Faster Justice
Coastal communities face disputes involving land, chars, river erosion, fisheries, environmental damage, infrastructure and maritime activities. Such cases can take years to resolve in ordinary courts.
Bangladesh should therefore consider establishing specialized Coastal Courts, or alternatively special coastal tribunals or benches within existing District and Sessions Judge courts.
Judges and legal officials handling these cases should have expertise in maritime, environmental, fisheries and land law. Faster resolution would provide relief to victims, reduce case backlogs, discourage illegal occupation and strengthen confidence in the rule of law.
Life Insurance for Fishermen’s Families
When a fisherman dies or disappears, the consequences extend far beyond the individual. In many cases, the family loses its only source of income.
A state-supported, low-premium insurance program specifically designed for fishermen could provide compensation for accidental death, disappearance, disaster-related deaths and permanent disability.
The program should also connect families with educational assistance, healthcare and alternative livelihood opportunities. A reliable social safety net would help families recover from sudden economic shocks and make fishing communities more resilient.
Protecting the Coast Means Protecting Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s coastal region represents both an enormous challenge and an extraordinary opportunity. Its fisheries, shrimp, forests, salt, offshore resources, ports, tourism, energy potential and other assets could contribute significantly to national development if managed sustainably.
The Sundarbans, St. Martin’s Island and other coastal ecosystems are also critical national and global environmental assets. Protecting them requires development policies that recognize the relationship between economic growth, environmental conservation and community livelihoods.
The proposals for a Ministry of Coastal Affairs, Coastal Development
Board, specialized Coastal Police Stations, Fishermen Protection Act, Coastal Courts, Coastal Bank, modern maritime safety systems and dedicated life insurance should therefore not be viewed simply as demands for creating new institutions.
They represent a broader demand for security, dignity, justice and sustainable development for the people who live and work along Bangladesh’s coast.
Saving the coast means protecting its people, resources and ecosystems. Ultimately, saving the coast means saving the nation.
Shafiqul Islam Khokon is a
columnist and a researcher.
