Bangladesh is endowed with rich water resources and favorable climate conditions, and ranks among the global leaders of fish production. However, its aquaculture industry focuses mainly on finfish, overlooking the potential of aquatic plants. In contrast, countries like China, Vietnam, and Malaysia utilize aquatic plants for ornamental use, biogas, and fodder production. Integrating aquatic plants into Bangladesh’s aquaculture could foster sustainability, innovation, and ecological balance. A six-month study was conducted using a 1m² standard quadrat across aquaculture, non-aquaculture, and derelict ponds to assess aquatic plant diversity and abundance. Employing a multiple linear regression (MLR) model, the study examined the relationship between plant abundance and environmental variables, including weather and water quality. Thirteen aquatic plant species from ten families were identified, with Pistia stratiotes (50%) being the most dominant, followed by Lemna minor (20%) and Spirodela polyrrhiza (7%). Free-floating species accounted for 78.2% of all plants observed, with the highest abundance found in derelict ponds. The MLR model had R2 values of 0.670, 0.780, and 0.922 for aquaculture, non-aquaculture, and derelict pond, respectively. The dependent variable (number of plants/quadrat) showed a significant relation with independent variables (air temperature, water temperature, water depth, pH, DO, transparency, and rainfall) for non-aquaculture and the derelict ponds, but not for the aquaculture pond. The findings highlight the ecological importance of aquatic plant diversity and its potential role in Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) to sustain economic growth, presenting a sustainable pathway for enhancing aquaculture productivity and resilience in Bangladesh.