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DHAKA, Mar 10, 2026 (BSS) – BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey has underscored the Bangladesh’s leadership role as the current chair of the regional bloc and expressed the secretariat’s readiness to work closely with the new government to strengthen regional cooperation.

He made the remarks while hosting an Iftar-dinner in Dhaka on Monday evening, bringing together government leaders, diplomats, members of the media, academics and business representatives to celebrate the spirit of Ramadan and promote regional harmony.

Pandey said the BIMSTEC Secretariat is keen to collaborate closely with the new government of Bangladesh to deepen cooperation among member states and advance the organisation’s shared regional agenda.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, who attended the event, described BIMSTEC as an important platform linking South and Southeast Asia, emphasising the significance of spiritual and humanitarian values in building a more empathetic and integrated regional community.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat and Secretary (Bilateral) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Nazrul Islam also joined the gathering.

Welcoming the guests, the BIMSTEC secretary general said the holy month of Ramadan promotes universal values of self-restraint, compassion and kindness, encouraging people to lead virtuous lives and contribute to a better world.

Amid growing global uncertainties, he said, BIMSTEC remains a strong regional platform where shared civilisational ties and developmental aspirations can help realise the organisation’s vision of a secure, developed and sustainable Bay of Bengal region.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) comprises seven member states—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

The bloc’s cooperation agenda spans several sectors including trade and investment, blue economy, environment and climate change, security, energy, disaster management, agriculture, connectivity, tourism, science and technology, health and human resource development.