In the dark, silent depths of the Bay of Bengal, areas almost unreachable by humans, scientists have made a discovery that has put the Bangladesh government on high alert and raised global concern. During a survey by the research vessel ‘RV Dr Fridtjof Nansen’, plastic waste was found nearly two kilometres beneath the ocean’s surface. Scientists have described the finding as deeply alarming, warning that if plastic can reach such remote depths, no part of the planet has escaped human pollution.
Professor Saydur Rahman Chowdhury of the Institute of Marine Sciences at Chittagong University said conditions beneath the sea are deteriorating rapidly. The survey highlighted two particularly worrying trends. The presence of plastic at a depth of 2,000 metres suggests marine life is being choked, while a sharp rise in jellyfish populations in deep waters points to serious ecological imbalance. Scientists explain that when larger fish decline, species such as jellyfish begin to dominate.
The report also shows a steep fall in the number of large fish compared to 2018, largely due to industrial trawling. An estimated 270 to 280 large fishing vessels operate in Bangladesh’s waters, around 70 of them equipped with sonar technology. These ships use sonar to locate fish shoals and harvest them in bulk. Fisheries and livestock adviser Farida Akhter has warned that if such targeted fishing continues unchecked, the Bay of Bengal could be stripped of marine life. In response, the government plans to take strict action against sonar-based fishing.
Scientists stress that the plastic found in the Bay of Bengal is not merely a local issue but part of a global crisis that has spread “from the ocean to a mother’s womb”. The report references disturbing findings worldwide: microplastics have been detected in the Mariana Trench, the deepest point on Earth, as well as in snow from Mount Everest and the Himalayas. A landmark 2020 study revealed that microscopic plastic particles are now present in human blood, lungs and even the womb, exposing unborn babies to plastic before birth.
Amid these concerns, the survey also delivered some positive news. A team of 25 scientists, including 13 from Bangladesh, identified 65 aquatic species previously unrecorded. However, researchers caution that these discoveries are being overshadowed by the growing threats of plastic pollution and overfishing.
Bangladesh’s chief adviser Muhammad Yunus noted that the country’s maritime area is comparable to its landmass, yet remains poorly utilised and protected. He emphasised the urgent need for science-based policies to safeguard the oceans.
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