Dhaka wants inclusive Indian Ocean, not unilateral dominance: Momen

 Bangladesh wants a free, open, peaceful, secure and inclusive Indian Ocean instead of dominance by any single country, said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen.

"The Indian Ocean is a huge issue. We do not want to see any unilateral dominance by any particular group or country in the Indian Ocean. This is our principle," he said while answering a question at a press briefing ahead of the Indian Ocean Rim meeting, scheduled to begin on Monday.

As the upcoming chair of Indian Ocean Rim Association (Iora), Bangladesh will be hosting the 21st Iora Council of Ministers' meeting on 17 November, and the 23rd committee of senior officials and its related meetings on 15-16 November.

More than 15 member states with 12 ministerial-level delegations are expected to join the event physically and another 8-10 delegations virtually. In total, around 80 delegates are coming to Dhaka to participate in the meetings.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said through the Iora event, Bangladesh has got an opportunity to show the world how it has been able to bring the Covid situation under control.

Iora is an inter-governmental organisation aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and sustainable development within the Indian Ocean region through its 23 member states and nine dialogue partners.

The organisation was established in 1997.

"Given the widespread interest about Indo-Pacific, we expect that Iora will chalk out its own vision of the Indo-Pacific – a vision for a free, open, peaceful, secure and inclusive Indo-Pacific region based on international law and with shared prosperity for all so that we promote sustainable Blue Economy in the region," said Foreign Minister Momen.

The "Indo-Pacific Vision" will also come up for discussion in the meeting.

Iora has six priority and two focus areas, identified on the basis to promote sustained growth and balanced development in the Indian Ocean Region.

These are maritime safety and security, trade and investment facilitation, fisheries management, disaster risk management, tourism and cultural exchanges, academic, science and technology cooperation, blue economy, women's economic empowerment. "We will try to focus on those issues," Dr Momen said.

"The Indian Ocean is very important for trading. It's also dangerous with some associated risks like cyclones, typhoons, and tidal surges. So, it's an essential meeting," he said.

Momen said Bangladesh would propose 'Iora-Dhaka Development Initiative (Iora-DDI)' to enhance capacity building through offering practical training, on-the-job learning and physical demonstration in the areas where Bangladesh has specialisation and expertise, especially in disaster management and aquaculture.

A strategic dialogue on the impact of Covid-19 and perspectives of economic recovery in the Indian Ocean Region will be held on Wednesday. Iora Action Plan 2022-27 will hopefully be approved during the meeting. 

The Iora ministers will also meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during their stay in Dhaka.

Even though the Rohingya issue is not on the agenda, Bangladesh may discuss the issue in various bilateral meetings with visiting ministers, said the foreign secretary.

The appointment of a secretary general to Iora also is expected to get approved at the ministerial meeting on 17 November.

"Border killings shameful for India"

While answering a question about the killings of Bangladeshi citizens along the India borders, Foreign Minister Momen said it is "shameful" for the neighbouring country.

"Such killings are tragic for us and also shameful for India even after having several bilateral verbal decisions to refrain from using lethal weapons on the borders," he said.

Two Bangladeshi nationals were reportedly shot dead by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on Kaliganj border in Lalmonirhat on 12 November and two more Bangladeshi youths were found dead at Dona's no-man's land border area in Kanaighat, Sylhet, on 3 November.

At least 45 Bangladeshi citizens were either shot dead or tortured to death by the BSF in border areas from January to December last year.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said Indian President Ram Nath Kovind will come to Bangladesh on the occasion of Victory Day celebrations on 16 December.

Replying to a question, the foreign minister said during the recent visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the United Kingdom, the UK showed interest in selling naval ships. And during her visit to France, France showed interest in selling aircraft and radar. But Bangladesh has not yet made final decisions in this regard.

The Iora member states are Australia, Bangladesh, Union of Comoros, French Republic, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.