Bangladesh on Friday assumed the chairmanship of the regional bloc Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) for the next two years, reaffirming its commitment to advancing regional cooperation and development.
Upon receiving the chairmanship from the prime minister of Thailand, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus made a statement of acceptance, underscoring an inclusive and action-oriented Bimstec.
Bimstec comprises seven countries of the Bay of Bengal region: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
The chairmanship of Bimstec, which has emerged as a significant forum for promoting regional development, connectivity, and economic progress in the Bay of Bengal region, rotates according to the alphabetical order of the English names of the member states, officials said.
The changeover of chairmanship takes place during the summit, where the member state chairing Bimstec hosts the summit and hands over the chairmanship to the member state next in alphabetical order.
The theme of the sixth summit, held three years after the fifth summit (Virtual, Colombo, March 30, 2022), was "Prosperous, Resilient, and Open Bimstec."
At the beginning of the summit, leaders took a group photo, followed by a welcome address by the Bimstec chair, the prime minister of Thailand.
A one-minute silence was observed for the recent earthquake victims in Myanmar and Thailand.
After the adoption of the agenda, leaders of Bimstec, including the chief adviser, made their statements.
Leaders of Bimstec member states unanimously adopted the Bangkok Declaration and the Bimstec Bangkok Vision, a strategic roadmap aimed at guiding the organization towards sustainable development and deeper economic integration.
Yunus outlined Bangladesh’s vision and priorities for Bimstec in his statement.
Reaffirming his government’s unwavering commitment, he said Bangladesh remains steadfast in upholding the constitutional rights of all its citizens, including women and members of ethnic and religious minorities.
Yunus emphasized the urgent need to implement the Bimsetc Framework Agreement on FTA and stressed the importance of executing the Bimstec Master Plan on Transport Connectivity.
He also called for more visible and proactive measures by Bimstec to engage Myanmar in fostering stability in the Rakhine State, thereby creating a conducive environment for the return of forcibly displaced Rohingyas to their land.
Earlier, the chief adviser joined a breakfast meeting with Thai dignitaries on the sidelines of the Bimstec Summit.
He posed for photographs with Thai dignitaries after the breakfast meeting.
