View source for Countries of the Bay of Bengal

[[File:Bay of Bengal map.png|thumb|300px|Map of the Bay of Bengal region]]
The countries of the [[Bay of Bengal]] include [[littoral]] and [[landlocked]] countries that depend on the bay for maritime usage. Historically, the Bay of Bengal has been a highway of transport, trade and cultural exchange between diverse peoples encompassing [[South Asia]] and [[Southeast Asia]]. Today, the Bay of Bengal region is the convergence of two major geopolitical blocs- the [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations]] (ASEAN) and the [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation]] (SAARC). The [[Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation]] (BIMSTEC) promotes regional engagement in the area.

The Bay of Bengal countries are often categorized into a maritime [[subregion]]. The bay hosts vital shipping routes linking its littoral and landlocked hinterland with the [[Indian Ocean]]. Its sea bed is being explored and exploited for [[hydrocarbon]] reserves.