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.

The D-8 countries on Thursday agreed to explore the possibilities of developing and enhancing transport connectivity among D-8 Member States to facilitate trade and investment, including the intra-D-8 trade. “There’s a lot of opportunities and possibilities. We’ll take initiatives to boost trade and investment and create jobs,” Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told reporters at a virtual press conference after the 10th Summit. State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen were present. Dr Momen said they believe that trade and investment among the D-8 countries will be increased through cooperation.   The Summit adopted two documents – “Dhaka Declaration 2021”, and “D-8 Decennial Roadmap for 2020-2030.” Dr Momen said the D-8 leaders commended and supported the idea of the government of Bangladesh to engage the youth and ensure their participation in the new reality of 4IR through hosting the first-ever D-8 Youth Summit. Also read: D-8 Summit: Hasina for building a better future together If nurtured properly, the demographic asset of more than 50 percent of the D-8 populace under 24 years of age could become the fulcrum that boosts up economic growth of the Member States, according to Dhaka Declaration 2021.  

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.

Seamless transport connectivity between India and Bangladesh has the potential to increase national income by as much as 17 percent in Bangladesh and 8 percent in India, according to a new World Bank (WB) report.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday emphasised the implementation of the Bimstec Master Plan for transport connectivity for the greater benefit of the Bimstec region.