On 15 March 2022, the Bangladesh Institute of Maritime Research and Development (BIMRAD) organised a webinar on 'Emerging Security Challenges in Indian Ocean Region: Assessing the Impacts of Geopolitical and Geo-Economics Maneuvrings in The Bay of Bengal Littorals' Participants included maritime experts, IR scholars, Bangladesh Navy Officials (serving and retired), and representatives of prominent think tanks in Bangladesh and the discussion took place under Chatham House Rules.

The webinar identified the critical underpinnings of the geopolitical and geoeconomic dynamics of the Bay of Bengal by situating it in the broader context of the Indian Ocean. As the Bay of Bengal (BOB) has become more strategically significant for the littorals and the states beyond this maritime region, the participants agreed that the countries in the region need to strengthen cooperation and adopt more sustainable and meaningful engagements to tackle transboundary issues more effectively.

This outcome document summarises the key takeaways of the discussion and recommendations for greater regional maritime cooperation in the Bay of Bengal. These outcomes will also be made available to the webinar participants and the relevant stakeholders for their consideration.