Bangladesh: The Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones (Amendment) Act of 2021

Abstract

Bangladesh passed the Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones in 1974. In 2001, Bangladesh became a State Party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (unclos). In 2012 and 2014, Bangladesh resolved its maritime disputes with Myanmar and India, respectively. These developments necessitated the amendment of the 1974 law. In 2021, the Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones (Amendment) Act of 2021 was enacted into law. The law brings the domestic legislation of Bangladesh into conformity with unclos and establishes the sovereignty of Bangladesh over its maritime areas and offshore resources in order to facilitate the exploration and extraction of its marine resources. This article highlights significant changes and provisions in the new law.