Leaders of the BIMSTEC member countries attend a joint photo session during the organisation’s sixth summit in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday. Photo: CA GOB- Facebook

DHAKA, April 04, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh today assumed the chairmanship of BIMSTEC for the next two years, reaffirming its commitment to advancing regional cooperation and development.

The transition was taken place at the end of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok where leaders of the seven-member regional bloc including chief adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus were present.

BIMSTEC members are- Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

The leaders discussed the pressing regional issues under the theme "Prosperous, Resilient, and Open BIMSTEC."

“Upon receiving the Chairmanship from the Prime Minister of Thailand, the Chief Adviser made a statement of acceptance, underscoring an inclusive and action-oriented BIMSTEC,” said a foreign ministry’s press release here. 

Heads of Governments of BIMSTEC Member States unanimously adopted the Bangkok Declaration and the BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision, a strategic roadmap aimed at guiding the organization toward sustainable development and deeper economic integration,” said the release. 

Chief Adviser Professor Yunus outlined Bangladesh’s vision and priorities for BIMSTEC in his statement, it added. 

Reaffirming his government’s unwavering commitment, he assured that Bangladesh remains steadfast in upholding the constitutional rights of all its citizens, including women and members of ethnic and religious minorities.

He emphasized the urgent need to implement the BIMSTEC Framework Agreement on FTA and stressed the importance of executing the BIMSTEC Master Plan on Transport Connectivity. 

Professor Yunus 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.

As per BIMSTEC's charter, the chairmanship rotates among member states in alphabetical order.

BIMSTEC, established in 1997, has increasingly positioned itself as a vital platform for regional collaboration, particularly in trade, technology, transport, energy, and counterterrorism. 

With Bangladesh at the helm for the next two years, the country is expected to focus on enhancing trade facilitation, infrastructure connectivity, and climate resilience among member states, said an official familiar with the BIMSREC Secretariat in Dhaka. 

The new BIMSTEC chair Bangladesh will now begin its work in steering the organization's agenda, ensuring that the regional bloc continues to play a strategic role in fostering economic growth and stability in the Bay of Bengal region, he said.