BIMSTEC should look past tensions and deepen regional engagement: Kobir

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir has called on BIMSTEC member states to move beyond bilateral tensions and expand regional engagement, emphasising mutual trust, political commitment and a shared vision to make the regional grouping more effective.

“For BIMSTEC to succeed, we must not remain focused on bilateral tensions but broaden the scope of engagement,” Kobir said.

He made the remarks at a reception hosted by BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey and his wife, Sushma Pandey, at a Dhaka hotel on Monday evening to mark BIMSTEC Secretariat Establishment Day.

Diplomats, representatives of BIMSTEC member states, business leaders, civil society members and senior journalists attended the event.

Kobir said Bangladesh would work closely with all BIMSTEC members and the Secretariat in the coming months to accelerate implementation across various mechanisms and prepare for the next BIMSTEC Summit, which Bangladesh is expected to host in Dhaka in 2027.

He said the summit would offer an important opportunity for member states to assess progress, identify new priorities and provide fresh political direction to the region’s common agenda.

“I am confident that BIMSTEC can become an even more dynamic bridge between South and Southeast Asia and a strong force for regional peace, progress and sustainable development,” he said.

Extending greetings to the governments and people of all BIMSTEC member states, Kobir stressed the need to sustain regional cooperation despite differences.

“We must have the tenacity and vision to navigate difficult challenges, tensions and dialogue and make regional cooperation a success through mutual trust, political will and a shared sense of purpose,” he said.

He also praised the BIMSTEC secretary general and his team for their continued commitment and service to regional cooperation.

Kobir said the establishment of the BIMSTEC Secretariat in Dhaka 12 years ago marked a significant milestone in the institutional development of the grouping.

Over the years, he said, the Secretariat had developed into BIMSTEC’s central coordinating hub, supporting member states, facilitating sectoral cooperation, maintaining institutional continuity and helping translate decisions taken by leaders and ministers into practical programmes.

“Bangladesh is proud to host this regional institution and remains committed to providing the support necessary for it to effectively fulfil its responsibilities,” he said.

The state minister said the Bay of Bengal had linked the peoples of South and Southeast Asia for centuries, facilitating the exchange of culture, knowledge, faith and human interaction long before modern regionalism emerged.

“BIMSTEC gives contemporary institutional form to those historic connections,” he said.

The seven member states—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand—collectively possess enormous human, natural and economic resources, Kobir said.

“Our task is to transform this shared geography into shared prosperity,” he added.

He noted that economic uncertainty, fragmented supply chains, climate change, energy insecurity, public health risks, cyber threats, transnational crime and humanitarian challenges transcended national borders.

“No country can address them effectively in isolation. A stronger BIMSTEC is therefore not simply desirable; it is a strategic necessity for the peace, resilience and prosperity of our region,” he said.

Kobir said Bangladesh assumed the BIMSTEC chairmanship with a clear commitment to making the organisation more functional, visible, inclusive and people-centred.

“Our approach is guided by practical cooperation and measurable outcomes,” he said.

As the lead country for trade, investment and development, including the blue economy, Bangladesh places particular importance on strengthening regional economic integration, improving connectivity, promoting the sustainable use of marine resources and creating opportunities for businesses and people, he said.

Kobir stressed that progress towards a BIMSTEC Free Trade Area remained essential.

He also highlighted the blue economy, describing the Bay of Bengal as one of the region’s greatest shared assets. Fisheries, shipping routes, renewable energy, marine biodiversity, tourism and coastal livelihoods could become key drivers of sustainable growth, he said.

“Connectivity must remain at the heart of the BIMSTEC project,” Kobir said, calling for sustained implementation, innovative financing and stronger engagement with the private sector and development partners.

He also stressed that economic prosperity must be built on peace and security, making cooperation against terrorism, transnational crime, human trafficking, narcotics and cyber threats, as well as disaster management and maritime security, indispensable.

“We must develop trust and strengthen our cooperation further,” he said.

Kobir underscored the importance of people-to-people connectivity through tourism, education, culture, youth exchanges, professional networks, think-tank cooperation, innovation and stronger interaction among private-sector stakeholders.

“BIMSTEC must become not only an intergovernmental process but also a living regional community,” he said.

As the current BIMSTEC chair and host of the Secretariat, Bangladesh’s responsibility goes beyond convening meetings, Kobir said, reiterating Dhaka’s commitment to working with all member states and the Secretariat to advance implementation and prepare for the 2027 summit.

“Regional instruments like BIMSTEC can work as diplomatic enablers for regional engagement and cooperation,” he said.