Bimstec Summit
PM calls for rebuilding a resilient Bay of Bengal region for common benefits
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday called for collective efforts of the seven Bay of Bengal countries at tapping the full potentials of the region for the benefits of their people.
“We need to find common strategies to rebuild a sustainable and resilient Bay of Bengal region by tapping the full potentials of the region,” she said while addressing the 5th BIMSTEC Summit that opened in Sri Lankan capital Colombo.
Joining the summit virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban the prime minister said that the summit meeting gives an opportunity to expedite the collective efforts and find out common solutions to the multiple challenges.
BIMSTEC of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand bringing together 1.54 billion people of the resource-rich region.
5th BIMSTEC Summit begins in Colombo: Leaders set to sign BIMSTEC Charter
Leaders of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) are set to sign the BIMSTEC Charter at the 5th Summit that began in Sri Lankan capital city on Wednesday morning.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi are joining the Summit, hosted by current BIMSTEC chair Sri Lanka in virtual mode, from Dhaka and New Delhi respectively.
BIMSTEC Convention on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters will be signed by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Justice or the nominated signatories of the BIMSTEC Member States.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen is leading a Bangladesh delegation at the Summit in person.
Read: Bangladesh seeks Thailand’s support to get connected with Trilateral Highway project
Momen said Bangladesh is committed to the security and stability of the region within the framework of BIMSTEC Convention on Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime and annual Consultation Mechanism of BIMSTEC National Security Advisors Forum.
"I am happy to note that our leaders will be approving and watching the signing of the BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters at the 5th BIMSTEC Summit," he said.
The foreign minister said senior officials’ meeting held on Monday recommended some important documents for consideration and onward recommendation to the Summit.
"BIMSTEC Charter is one of them which will place the organization’s activities on a more structured and rule based platform," Momen said.
PM to attend BIMSTEC Summit virtually: FM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will virtually join the BIMSTEC Summit scheduled to be held on March 30 in Sri Lanka.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, who will attend the Summit, confirmed the prime minister’s virtual joining.
While talking to reporters at his office on Tuesday, Dr Momen also said Myanmar is not probably sending ther head of the government.
Read:Stay united to take Bangladesh forward: PM urges after dedicating Payra plant as her Ramadan, Eid gift
The 5th BIMSTEC Summit is likely to adopt the long expected BIMSTEC transport connectivity master plan, says State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam recently.
This plan, he said, will put new impetus in implementation of multi-modal connectivity projects connecting the member states towards regional integration in the Bay of Bengal Region.
Though the COVID 19 slowed down the momentum, the 5th BIMSTEC Summit will be held after four years since the 4th BIMSTEC Summit held in 2018.
The much-awaited next edition of the BIMSTEC Summit will be hosted by current chair Sri Lanka.
The 5th BIMSTEC Summit will be an opportunity to review and reflect what had worked and what did not, said the State Minister.
“It will be an opportunity to refresh and renew their commitment to strengthen the BIMSTEC Process in all respects,” he said.
At the impending 5th BIMSTEC Summit, Alam said, a substantive number of issues are expected to be high on the agenda of the leaders for their consideration and adoption.
Another fundamental area of cooperation and a much needed element of regional integration is the implementation of BIMSTEC Free Trade Area, said the State Minister while addressing as the chief guest at the “Bay of Bengal Economic Forum 2022” on Friday.
Read: Greek PM phones Hasina, praises her leadership for impressive development
Alam said BIMSTEC is expecting to get a Charter after 25 years of its establishment. “We’re also expecting a quarter dozen legal instruments to be concluded during the Summit.”
With the conclusion of these four legal instruments, the number of essential legal documents will be raised to 13 from existing, he said.
These documents are fundamental software for operation and functioning of the BIMSTEC Process which has been moving at a slow pace since its inception in 1997.
Transport connectivity master plan likely to be adopted in 5th BIMSTEC Summit: Shahriar
The 5th BIMSTEC Summit, scheduled to be held on March 30, is likely to adopt the long-awaited BIMSTEC transport connectivity master plan, says State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam.
This plan, he said, will put new impetus in implementation of multi-modal connectivity projects involving the member states towards regional integration in the Bay of Bengal region.
Though the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down the momentum, the 5th BIMSTEC Summit will be held this month after four years since the 4th BIMSTEC Summit held in 2018. This summit will be hosted by current chair Sri Lanka.
The 5th BIMSTEC Summit will be an opportunity to review and reflect what had worked and what did not, said the State Minister.
“It will be an opportunity to refresh and renew their commitment to strengthen the BIMSTEC Process in all respects,” he said.
Also read: Shahriar meets Lekhi in Delhi
At the impending BIMSTEC Summit, Alam said, a substantive number of issues are expected to be high on the agenda of the leaders for their consideration and adoption.
Transport connectivity: Bimstec master plan ready for approval
The special session of Bimstec Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) Wednesday endorsed the "BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity" for approval and adoption by the 17th Bimstec Ministerial Meeting and Fifth Bimstec Summit.
The Fifth Bimstec Summit is expected to be held in Sri Lanka's Colombo this year.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen virtually took part in the SOM held in Colombo.
He led a four-member Bangladesh delegation of Additional Foreign Secretary Md Shamsul Haque (Saarc and Bimstec) and other officers.
Also read: Bimstec SG lauds Bangladesh’s socioeconomic development
The foreign secretaries and senior officials of all the seven Bimstec member states joined the meeting, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
5th BIMSTEC Summit in Jan; Bhutan nominates Lekphell as next SG
The 5th BIMSTEC Summit, preceded by the 17th BIMSTEC Ministerial meeting, is proposed to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in the first half of January 2021 subject to the improved COVID situation.
Modalities of 5th BIMSTEC Summit to be discussed on Sept 2
The 21st session of the BIMSTEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) comprising Foreign Secretaries of the BIMSTEC Member States will be held virtually in Colombo, Sri Lanka on September 2 with a possibility to hold the next Summit virtually if the pandemic situation does not improve.
Bangladesh to construct modern building for Bimstec Secretariat: Shahriar
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam has said that Bangladesh will construct a multi-storied modern building for the Bimstec Secretariat.