BIMSTEC chief highlights Bangladesh’s leadership in regional cooperation

Secretary-General of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Indra Mani Pandey on Monday highlighted Bangladesh’s leadership role as the current chair of the regional grouping.

He also expressed the BIMSTEC Secretariat’s keenness to work closely with the new government of Bangladesh to further strengthen and deepen regional cooperation.

Pandey made the remarks while hosting an iftar-dinner that brought together government leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives from the media, academia and business communities to celebrate the spirit of Ramadan and promote regional peace and harmony.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, who attended the programme, described BIMSTEC as a vital bridge between South and Southeast Asia and underscored the importance of spiritual values in fostering a more empathetic and integrated regional community.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat also attended the event, along with Secretary (Bilateral) Dr Nazrul Islam.

Welcoming the guests, Pandey said the holy month of Ramadan teaches universal values such as self-restraint, compassion and kindness, encouraging individuals to lead virtuous lives and contribute to building a better world.

Amid what he described as unprecedented global turmoil, the BIMSTEC Secretary-General said the organisation provides a strong regional platform where shared civilisational ties and common development aspirations enable member states to work towards the collective vision of a secure, developed and sustainable Bay of Bengal region.

BIMSTEC comprises seven countries of the Bay of Bengal region -Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

The organisation’s cooperation agenda spans multiple sectors, including trade, investment and development, the blue economy, environment and climate change, mountain economy, security, energy and disaster management, agriculture and food security, fisheries and livestock, people-to-people contact, tourism, culture, poverty alleviation and visa matters, as well as science, technology and innovation, health, human resource development and connectivity.