Shared Waters, Shared Futures: Sahabhagita and Cooperative Governance in the Bay of Bengal

The Bay of Bengal is one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions. The Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna basin sustains nearly 700 million people, yet fragmented water governance costs the region over USD 14 billion annually in disaster losses and missed development opportunities. By reframing rivers and seas as shared commons, Sahabhagita – a framework of cooperation- highlights how regional cooperation can strengthen resilience, reduce risk, and build a more stable and prosperous Bay of Bengal future.