Bangladesh signs BIMSTEC maritime transport deal
Bangladesh signed the BIMSTEC Maritime Transport Cooperation Agreement on Thursday, marking a significant step towards enhancing regional connectivity. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, along with his counterparts from other BIMSTEC member countries, signed the agreement.
Later, the 20th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting was held in Bangkok, Thailand, where foreign ministers of all seven BIMSTEC member states participated. The meeting took place a day ahead of the Sixth BIMSTEC Summit.
During the meeting, Touhid Hossain emphasised the need for tangible and result-oriented cooperation among BIMSTEC member states, particularly through the effective implementation of the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area (FTA) to enhance intra-regional trade. He reiterated Bangladesh's commitment to ensuring collective peace, progress, and prosperity through a shared BIMSTEC vision.
He also raised the issue of 1.2 million Rohingya refugees sheltered in Bangladesh and stressed the importance of creating a conducive environment in Myanmar to facilitate the safe, dignified, and voluntary repatriation of the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN) with full rights and security.
At the meeting, BIMSTEC foreign ministers finalised the draft Provisional Agenda for the Sixth BIMSTEC Summit and the draft Summit Declaration, which will be considered at the upcoming summit scheduled for tomorrow.
Additionally, the ministers agreed to hold the 21st BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting in Dhaka.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of the report of the 20th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting.
Meanwhile, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus is scheduled to attend the Sixth BIMSTEC Summit of Heads of State/Governments in Bangkok on Friday.
