Bangladesh and other Indo-Pacific countries need a transnational approach as they are extremely vulnerable to growing non-traditional security threats in the region, the experts said Monday.
They were speaking at the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS)-Dhaka Tribune discussion "Non-traditional Security Threats in the Indo-Pacific Region" in Dhaka Sunday.
BIPSS President Major General ANM Muniruzzaman (retired) said many countries in the region do not have a layout of a comprehensive security strategy. "So, most of the issues are addressed on an ad-hoc basis."
Air Vice Marshal Mahmud Hussain (retired) said the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework can be useful and critical in advancing partnership in areas of non-traditional security concerns.
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Small regional states are the most vulnerable in tackling non-traditional security issues when two big powers compete for dominance, Marufa Akter, assistant professor at the Independent University, Bangladesh, said.
Tackling climate change and biodiversity loss in the Indo-Pacific should remain a top priority for Bangladesh and other countries, she noted.
Zafar Sobhan, editor of Dhaka Tribune, also spoke.