Bangladesh today urged BIMSTEC member states to play a more active role in intensifying international pressure on Myanmar to help find a sustainable solution to the protracted Rohingya crisis. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam made the call while addressing a seminar titled 'Three Decades of BIMSTEC: Advancing Regional Cooperation for Shared Prosperity' at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) auditorium.
Call for Regional Action
'Effective international pressure needs to be exerted on Myanmar to ensure the safe, voluntary and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas,' she said. The state minister stressed that coordinated efforts by BIMSTEC member states could play an important role in this regard.
Bangladesh's Commitment to BIMSTEC
Shama reaffirmed Bangladesh's strong commitment to BIMSTEC and to promoting a peaceful, resilient and prosperous Bay of Bengal region. She emphasized the importance of translating regional commitments into concrete actions through greater implementation, practical cooperation and strengthened institutional mechanisms. As the current Chair of BIMSTEC, Bangladesh remains committed to advancing economic integration, connectivity, trade and investment, the Blue Economy and people-centric regional cooperation.
BIMSTEC Secretary General Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey, who attended the seminar as special guest, highlighted the organisation's ongoing projects and initiatives in areas including women's development, climate adaptation, grid interconnection and technical capacity-building in the energy sector. He also highlighted BIMSTEC cooperation in drug control, cyber, maritime and human security, counterterrorism and transnational crime, tourism, visa facilitation, trade and investment.
The seminar reviewed BIMSTEC's evolution over the past three decades and assessed the opportunities and challenges facing the regional grouping. Participants stressed practical and action-oriented initiatives to advance regional integration and contribute to peace, stability, resilience and sustainable development across the Bay of Bengal region.
