Maritime Migration in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean A dire need for greater cooperation (original) (raw)
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Otoritas : Jurnal Ilmu Pemerintahan, 2020
Irregular migration is an issue of great concern for today’s world. There are various factors which are responsible for this conundrum. These are overpopulation, natural disaster, poverty, illiteracy, lack of employment opportunities, for a better life etc. Thus, irregular migration has been a livelihood strategy for the millions of people worldwide for the long time. Bangladesh is one of the top countries of the world in terms of sending labor migrants. Every year thousands of Bangladeshis are migrating overseas either legally or by illegal means for a better livelihood. However, in the last couple of years, total remittance flow was not satisfactory because of the diplomatic tension between Bangladesh and major migrants receiving countries. In addition, the new migrations policies of the Middle-Eastern countries which is the main destination points for Bangladeshi migrants in terms of single regions also have shrunk the scope. As a result, the number of irregular migrations from ...
International Journal of Human Rights, 2017
The ‘boat people’ crisis that erupted in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea in May 2015 tragically exposed the vulnerabilities of migrants and refugees in the region. Following the initial reaction of states, which consisted of preventing boats from landing, a set of measures was adopted to put an end to the crisis and to address the issue of irregular movements by sea in the region over the long term. This article analyses the main elements of the response and discusses its implementation in the region in light of the already important practice and experience of Southeast Asian countries in dealing with large-scale arrival of ‘boat people’. It is argued that despite the calls for the resettlement of the Rohingyas and for the regularisation of their status as migrant workers, the situation will mainly be dealt with in an informal manner, with most of them joining the already significant community of Rohingyas living in a precarious situation in Malaysia. While the movement of Bangladeshis could well be addressed through other measures, in the case of Rohingyas, addressing the factors that prompt their departure in the first place – the so-called ‘root causes’ – is the only viable way to stop the movements.
Crossing the Bay of Bengal, came out at a time when I had just begun to explore another history of the Bay through my research into the experiences of Bengali refugees who were rehabilitated in the Andaman Islands in the years between 1949 and 1971.(1) Hounded by the violence and brutality of the post-partition riots that ravaged the deltaic districts of erstwhile East Bengal in 1949, hordes of small peasants and agricultural laborers belonging to the lowest rungs of the Hindu caste hierarchy fled their homes and sought refuge in the many squalid camps of West Bengal. A new Indian government proposal for refugee rehabilitation in the small group of Andaman Islands, located in the eastern corner of the Bay, gave them the opportunity to cross the seas and seek their final refuge in a place which they were told was ?much like Bengal?. Yet to reach this ?other Bengal?, they had to undertake a journey across the Bay and its dreaded waters ? the kalapaani. Many in the Bengali settler villages of the Middle Andaman Islands said that they had no ?caste? hence nothing to fear ? the dread of losing caste status or being socially ostracized if they crossed the waters of the Bay was not theirs. For them the Bay was the route to a safe haven ? an unknown yet promising journey from where they could build their lives anew. As they boarded the SS Maharaja the ship that took the first batch of post-partition refugees to the Andaman Islands in late 1949, they welcomed the stormy seas
Journal article, 2019
The paper analyses Bangladesh-India maritime connectivity in the Bay of Bengal region from a Bangladesh perspective. It aims at contributing to emerging literature on policy studies on maritime issues. It argues that to a larger extent, stability, prosperity and progress of Bangladesh depend on exploring and exploiting her untapped marine resources in the Bay of Bengal region. More than 90 per cent of Bangladesh's trade takes place through the sea. At the same time, there are growing maritime issues and concerns in the Bay of Bengal region that Bangladesh and India can jointly address. Consequently, the paper argues that it is of paramount interest for both Bangladesh and India to deepen their bilateral maritime connectivity in order to promote maritime cooperation. Areas and possibilities of maritime connectivity are visible from blue economy to joint research promotion. However, that connectivity needs to be based on reciprocity and mutual respect, but not on a zero sum pattern.
Review of 'Crossing the Bay of Bengal: The Furies of Nature and the Fortunes of Migrants
Reviews in History, 2017
Crossing the Bay of Bengal, came out at a time when I had just begun to explore another history of the Bay through my research into the experiences of Bengali refugees who were rehabilitated in the Andaman Islands in the years between 1949 and 1971.(1) Hounded by the violence and brutality of the post-partition riots that ravaged the deltaic districts of erstwhile East Bengal in 1949, hordes of small peasants and agricultural laborers belonging to the lowest rungs of the Hindu caste hierarchy fled their homes and sought refuge in the many squalid camps of West Bengal. A new Indian government proposal for refugee rehabilitation in the small group of Andaman Islands, located in the eastern corner of the Bay, gave them the opportunity to cross the seas and seek their final refuge in a place which they were told was 'much like Bengal'.
South Asian Survey, 2018
Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea (BoBAS) constitutes a single economically integrated region. Though for the strategic purpose, India looks at Bay of Bengal (BoB) separated from the Andaman Sea (AS). Since 2000, India has been making an effort to integrate its northeastern region to the vibrant economies in Southeast Asia. In this context, BoBAS becomes significant to emerge as an economically integrated region that has the potential for growth. Most of the countries, except for Myanmar, have witnessed 6-8 per cent growth for the past 10 years. They face similar maritime security threats, issues of terrorism and drug trafficking. Over the past few years, the countries of the region have invested on establishing connectivity network and are ready to cooperate on blue economy as a part of sustainable development. Several bilateral and multilateral cooperations that exist suggests that the region will emerge as an integrated economic and security zone in the future.
Yearbook of Strategic and Security Studies, 2022
To face the challenges of the 21st century, most of the littoral states are focusing on maritime security for better economic opportunities. Their geo-economic and strategic policies are shifting from land to the sea. The maritime domain has become a ‘site’ for economic and strategic development for the South Asian littoral states in recent decades. As maritime nations, India and Bangladesh are also moving towards the ocean-centric future. The fast-changing geo-political scenario in South Asia and the rise of China in the Indo-Pacific region have brought the significance of maritime cooperation and regional connectivity among the littorals of the Bay of Bengal (BoB). The objective of this paper is to reflect on maritime security and exploring common interests of India and Bangladesh in the BoB to find the prospective avenues on maritime cooperation and connectivity for shared growth. The study accordingly focuses on the blue economy for socio-economic progress, and strategic partnership for maritime security in the BoB. The paper delineates the possible impacts of climate change on the coastal communities in the region, where India and Bangladesh are facing common threats. It is argued that timely action and mutual cooperation can reduce the vulnerability of coastal communities