Bangladesh has joined the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), a grouping of four countries, as its fifth member. Bangladesh was ushered in as the newest member at the 8th Deputy National Security Adviser (DNSA) level meeting of the CSC hosted virtually by Mauritius on Wednesday.

India, Mauritius, the Maldives and Sri Lanka welcomed Bangladesh as the fifth member of the CSC, the Indian External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

Seychelles participated in the virtual meeting as an observer country. Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lt Gen Mizanur Rahman Shameem led the Bangladesh delegation at the meeting.

The Colombo Security Conclave was founded as a security framework in 2011 with India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. At the July 10 meeting, the member countries reviewed the decisions taken at the previous DNSA-level meeting hosted virtually by the Maldives on 12 July last year, the 6th NSA-level meeting hosted by Mauritius on 7-8 December 2023 and the progress of activities under the roadmap of activities for 2023-2024 of the CSC.

The member countries agreed that the 7th NSA-level meeting of the CSC will be held in India later this year.