Dhaka, Delhi discuss ways to make Bimstec a more vibrant organisation

Bangladesh and India have agreed to work together in making the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) a most effective and dynamic organisation.

Both sides agreed to intensify their efforts in achieving tangible progress in the field of trade and investment, connectivity, energy security, and climate change for ensuring shared peace and prosperity in the Bay of Bengal region, read a press statement issued by the Bangladesh foreign ministry on Thursday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend the next Bimstec summit in Bangkok, Thailand later this year where trade and investment, connectivity, and energy security will get priority.

"After the Bimstec conference, to be held on 30 November, Bangladesh is going to be the next chair of the organisation and India is going to be the secretary general. That is why Secretary (East) of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Saurabh Kumar came to Dhaka to know what Bangladesh is thinking as the next chair," said Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen in a press briefing after meeting with Saurabh Kumar on Thursday.

"India has taken Bimstec seriously. They want our attention in this regard. He [Saurabh] has come so that there is alignment of thought between the next chair and the secretary general," Momen said.

Saurabh Kumar arrived in Dhaka on Thursday to discuss Bimstec issues and held a meeting with the Bangladesh foreign secretary at the state guest house, Padma.

Kumar expressed India's willingness to work together with Bangladesh to make Bimstec more effective and dynamic, read the press statement of the Bangladesh foreign ministry.

Bimstec has become a priority organisation for India to boost regional trade, connectivity, and security as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) has not been functioning amid the rivalry between India and Pakistan.

"The connectivity not only means road or rail but also means grid connectivity (electricity). Various types of connectivity are under process including Asian Highway, and motor vehicle agreements between BBIN countries [Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal]. It will be discussed so that these agreements do not conflict with each other and how we can get maximum leverage," Masud Bin Momen said at the press briefing.

Momen also said Saurabh Kumar's visit has nothing to do with the US delegation's visit to Dhaka.

The US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Uzra Zeya will lead the US delegation during the July 11-14 visit.

Though the Indian foreign secretary has come to Dhaka to discuss the Bimstec issue, the current secretary general of Bimstec (Tenzin Lekphell from Bhutan) is not in Dhaka now. 

When Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen was asked whether there was any discussion with Saurabh Kumar about the next national election of Bangladesh, he said, "This [issue of talking about the election with Saurabh] is completely irrelevant. It is just speculation. And Bimstec's secretary general is not in Dhaka now as his mother has passed away. There is nothing else here."

Stating that Saurabh Kumar's visit has nothing to do with the visit of the US delegation, the foreign secretary said, "The dates of visits have already been arranged. The US delegation and the Indian secretary did not come together. That is not the case. A country's international relations involve a series of visits or meetings."

The Indian MEA's Secretary (East) will depart tomorrow morning.

Foreign Secretary Momen said, as a founding member of Bimstec, Bangladesh is committed to deepening relations with the member states of the organisation in all aspects and moving forward in materialising the objectives of this regional organisation.

He also noted that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is an ardent proponent of the Bimstec process, which is manifested in hosting the Bimstec Secretariat in Dhaka.

A meeting of foreign ministers of Bimstec member countries will be held on 17 July, ahead of the Bimstec summit.