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Non-traditional security issues are gaining prominence all over the world. Bangladesh is no exception in this regard. Various non-traditional security threats like climate change, sea level rise, migration of people etc. are prominent in Bangladesh. Along with these threats another emerging threat posed to Bangladesh is arsenic. Arsenicosis, arsenic poisoning, has emerged as a destabilizing factor in the society in particular and to the state in general. The present article looks at the arsenic poisoning from a security standpoint and analyses its implications to national security of Bangladesh.

Water and Hydro-Conflict in South Asia: Issues and Challenges

The distribution of environmental resources as a potential contributor to conflict has been the subject of considerable research, and these linkages have dominated the post-Cold War interest in environmental security. Within this genre, much attention has been given to water resources, owing to their vital importance for human survival. Water is considered, therefore, as one of the most crucial non-traditional security issues. Regardless of how water security defined, there is a consensus that freshwater scarcity poses a very serious, complex and potentially wide-ranging threat to regional stability. Increasing scarcity of clean fresh water impedes development, undercuts human health, and plays critical roles along the conflict continuum between and within states. Besides, population growth, surging demands for food and biofuels, global increases in living standards, and changing weather patterns mean there is even less water to go around. However, it is not the lack of water that leads to conflict, but the inadequate way the resource is governed and managed. Water has also proven to be a productive pathway to confidence building, cooperation, and arguably conflict prevention. Cooperative incidents outnumbered conflicts by more than two to one from 1945-1999. Indeed, the potential for conflict over these waterflows is great pointing to the need for cooperation between states as well as between basin users. The key variable is not absolute water scarcity, but the resilience of the institutions that manage water and its associated tensions.

Bangladesh-Myanmar Relations: The Security Dimension

Myanmar is the only other neighbour that we have on our border besides India. But, the relations between these two neighbours have at times not been as friendly as expected due to the presence of some unresolved issues like Rohingya refugees and the maritime boundary demarcation. The most recent stand-off took place in November, 2008, when four Korean ships guarded by Myanmar’s navy started exploration for oil and gas reserves within 50 nautical miles South-west of St. Martin Island,in Bangladesh water. However, compared to Myanmar’s military strength,Bangladesh is lagging far behind.Based on such realities, Bangladesh has to make up its mind sooner how it wishes to pursue its geopolitical goals to ensure optimum gains for the sake of national security.

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