EU names Chattogram Port Authority as Bangladesh's focal point for Indo-Pacific maritime cooperation
For Bangladesh, the move strengthens its standing as a proactive maritime state
The European Union has designated the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) as Bangladesh's National Focal Point for its Indo-Pacific maritime information-sharing network, giving the country a larger role in a system now used by more than 150 organisations across 57 nations.
The EU's CRIMARIO programme has been expanding the Indo-Pacific Regional Information Sharing (IORIS) platform into a central hub for secure operational coordination among maritime agencies. It supports everything from incident reports and vessel tracking to geospatial analysis and joint responses to piracy, trafficking, IUU fishing, marine pollution and search-and-rescue, according to a press release from the CPA.
Bangladesh's participation has grown steadily as its own maritime responsibilities expand. The CPA's selection follows a series of steps that demonstrated it can coordinate national agencies and manage the technical demands of a modern information-sharing network. The most visible example came in March 2025, when the port authority brought together key maritime bodies for an inter-agency IORIS training programme that laid the groundwork for deeper national integration.
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CPA officials also represented Bangladesh at the IORIS Policy Board's third standing committee meeting in Manila from 18–20 November, signalling that the country is adopting a more active role in regional discussions on maritime governance.
The designation of a single national focal point is expected to streamline how Bangladeshi agencies use IORIS. The Navy, Coast Guard, port authorities, customs, fisheries and emergency response units will be able to operate through a shared channel, improving awareness across the Bay of Bengal and reducing the time needed to respond to threats or incidents at sea.
EU officials see Bangladesh's involvement as part of a broader shift toward cooperative maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, where information-sharing and coordinated planning are becoming essential to regional stability.
For Bangladesh, the move strengthens its standing as a proactive maritime state at a time when trade, energy transport and blue-economy activities are becoming increasingly central to national interests.
