In earlier days, the Law of the Sea was in practice to meet states’ interests individually concerned. As time passed, it began to spread among states entertaining common approaches to state practices giving rise primarily to seas freedoms. Its effect from national interests to international cooperation grew practically since the Hague Codification Conference of International Law (1930). Afterwards, the Law of the Sea attained its reach internationally, enshrined in UNCLOS I (1958), UNCLOS II (1960) and UNCLOS III, resulting in UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982, embodying International Law for all intents and purposes as International Law of the Sea. Development of science and technology, as going on, knows no bounds, virtually putting things into effect as if beyond reach. Nevertheless, the Law of the Sea keeps its pace with such development.
The treatise, International Law of the Sea is an analytically descriptive as well as thought-provoking creative work. It ensures work-forward outlook to new vision and mission as embodied together with enriching peaceful uses of the seas, oceans, ocean bed, ocean floor, subsoil, and resources thereof within and beyond national jurisdiction. Specifically, emphasis has been given to treat “common heritage of mankind” doctrine as the rule applicable to International Law of the Sea.
The book will be useful to learners, teachers, lawyers, executors, organization and government officials, judicial personnel, researchers, and experts. It will serve as a reference source to all concerned with International Law of the Sea.
M. Habibur Rahman did his BSc (Hons), MSc Mathematics, and LLB from Dhaka University, LLM from Rajshahi University, LLM by research on the Law of the Sea dealing with “Delimitation of Maritime Boundaries with Special Reference to the Bangladesh-India Situation” from the University of Wales, United Kingdom, 1982, and PhD from National Law School of India University, Bangalore. He served as Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor in the Department of Law, Rajshahi University since 1970 until he retired in 2013. Prof. Habibur Rahman participated actively in many workshops, seminars and conferences held at home and abroad, sponsored nationally and internationally. In 1974, he attended a seminar held under the auspices of UNITAR in Bangkok, where he was in contact with internationally reputed LSE Professor D.H.N. Johnson, who inspired him to study and research Law of the Sea.
Prof. Rahman has contributed more than 60 articles on the Law of the Sea in its different aspects in the Western countries’ journals published in the United States, Germany, France, UK, Australia, Hong Kong, and other countries like India, Pakistan and a significant number of articles in Bangladesh as well. He contemplated an extraordinary treatise on Legal Regime of Marine Environment in the Bay of Bengal (2007) on a prestigious Post-Doctoral Senior Research Fellowship in Max-Planck Institute of Comparative Law and International Law (MPIL), Heidelberg, Germany, published by Atlantic Publishers & Distributors (P) Ltd., New Delhi, India. The book is highly acclaimed in the Western world educational and research institutes. Along with specialization in International Law of the Sea, Prof. Rahman is known for his contributions to Muslim Law, Marine Environment, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, and International Law of Resources.
