Bangladesh has consistently believed that regional cooperation is essential to achieving peace and prosperity. Since gaining its independence, the nation has looked for alliances to boost connectivity, increase trade and fortify regional security. Motivated by its aspiration for regional connectivity, Bangladesh was instrumental in the founding of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in 1985 and made a substantial contribution to its initial achievements. However, the SAARC has become largely dysfunctional in recent years, thanks to political tensions among some of its key members. Despite Dhaka’s continued support for and attempt to revive the SAARC, it is almost certain that such efforts are unlikely to yield any result due to factors beyond Bangladesh’s control. Against this backdrop, it is timely and strategic for Bangladesh to look beyond the SAARC and devote more attention to BIMSTEC, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation. There are valid and enduring reasons to do so.

With a view to enhancing cooperation between South and Southeast Asian countries, Bangladesh is a founding member of BIMSTEC, created in 1997, and was instrumental, together with India, Sri Lanka and Thailand, in establishing the organisation as a regional platform to engage in technical and economic cooperation.

Myanmar joined a few months later, followed by Bhutan and Nepal. This group brings together countries located around the Bay of Bengal, a critical maritime space for Bangladesh. Bangladesh has prided itself as a bridge connecting South Asia to Southeast Asia; the BIMSTEC is that bridge. It is, therefore, not surprising that Dhaka hosts the BIMSTEC Secretariat and has been extending full support to fulfil its role.

Bangladesh has also been instrumental in shaping the comprehensive agenda of BIMSTEC, in line with its own developmental priorities, comprising a large number of sectors of cooperation: agriculture and food security; blue economy; connectivity; culture; disaster management; energy; environment and climate change; fisheries and livestock; health; human resource development; mountain economy; people-to-people exchanges; poverty alleviation; science, technology and innovation; security; tourism; and trade, investment and development. The agenda of BIMSTEC dovetails fully with the developmental imperatives of Bangladesh, realising SDG Agenda 2030. BIMSTEC’s agenda for regional cooperation covers almost all the SDGs.

Bangladesh has played an equally important role in the evolution of BIMSTEC’s core and sectoral mechanisms and has been actively participating in them. The Chief Adviser of Bangladesh attended the 6th BIMSTEC Summit held on 04 April 2025 and utilised his presence in Bangkok to hold a number of bilateral meetings, including with Prime Minister Modi of India. BIMSTEC, thus, provides an active platform for bilateral meetings amongst the leaders of its member states as well as foreign ministers and sectoral ministers.

Bangladesh has helped to develop a special system that allows all BIMSTEC member states to play an equal part and make equal contributions to the organisation’s development by designating them as Lead Member States for a group of sectors. Bangladesh has been designated as the lead state for trade, investment and development, as well as blue economy sectors.

BIMSTEC works on the basis of consensus, providing a level playing field for all its members. It is a non-political organisation and has avoided getting embroiled in divisive political issues. It has, instead, remained focused on forging cooperation in various sectors on its agenda. Its non-political nature is actually its greatest strength.

Despite its lack of recognition, BIMSTEC has had success. It has signed numerous conventions, agreements and memorandums of understanding in a variety of fields.

Additionally, it has created sector-specific master plans and action plans that are currently being carried out. Centres of Excellence have been established. Actions are being taken to establish BIMSTEC technology transfer facilities and BIMSTEC Centres in fields like agriculture, disaster management, maritime transportation, tropical medicine, traditional medicine, skill development, culture and tourism, and auditing, even though the BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate, BIMSTEC Energy Centre, and BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission are operational.

BIMSTEC has also been working towards external partnerships. It has signed MoUs with ADB, IFPRI, IORA and UNODC. It has been working together with the ASEAN, CDRI, ISA, ITU, WB, WIPO, WHO, UNESCAP, UNOPS, UN Women, etc. As a chair, Bangladesh has a great chance to establish connections with other regional and global organisations that are eager to collaborate with BIMSTEC. In accordance with its developmental aims, it can mould collaboration with these organisations.

With a view to address the institutional challenges and limitations, BIMSTEC is undertaking implementation of the recommendations made by the Eminent Persons Group set up to define the future direction of BIMSTEC. It is thus poised to emerge as an efficient and effective regional organisation in the Bay of Bengal region. It enjoys full political support of all its members and has vast untapped potential for expanding regional cooperation.

Bangladesh holds the rotating Chair of BIMSTEC. It has a huge opportunity to lead BIMSTEC in order to subserve the interests of not only Bangladesh but also all other members. BIMSTEC provides Bangladesh a platform to realise its long-standing goal of leveraging regional cooperation for its developmental and security agenda. While not precluding its desire to revive SAARC, Bangladesh should have no hesitation in availing BIMSTEC as a platform to demonstrate its commitment and capability to lead regional cooperation, which will be aligned to and serve its own strategic interests.

The writer is an Editorial Assistant at Daily Sun