BIMSTEC: Can Bangladesh's Leadership Shape an Ideal Platform of Regional Cooperation?

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) strategically aims to connect South and Southeast Asia through various cooperation domains, including trade enhancement, security initiatives, climate resilience strategies, and interpersonal engagement programs. In particular, it has become a more efficient venue for regional collaboration due to the persistent impasse within SAARC. BIMSTEC aims to foster cooperation among the seven South and Southeast Asian countries, with a particular focus on bridging the gap between SAARC and ASEAN. It emphasizes seven key fields of regional collaboration – commerce and investment, security, agricultural and food security, environment and climate change, research, technology, and innovation, as well as interpersonal relations and connectivity, in which Bangladesh plays a significant role.

Indeed, Bangladesh’s strategic position at the crossroads of South and Southeast Asia has established it as the focal point and principal leader of BIMSTEC activities. Bangladesh is considered a vital ally in the Indo-Pacific region due to its strategic position in the northern Bay of Bengal, at the confluence of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The United States, India, Japan, and Australia view Bangladesh as a crucial component of their Indo-Pacific strategy due to its strategic geographical location. Nevertheless, smaller nations like Bangladesh are essential for maintaining balance, especially via multilateral frameworks such as BIMSTEC. Moreover, as a founding member and host of the BIMSTEC Secretariat in Dhaka, Bangladesh, it has a significant influence on the organization’s vision and trajectory.

Bangladesh assumed the BIMSTEC chairmanship during the Bangkok summit on 4 April 2025, for a two-year term. As such, the chair of BIMSTEC, Bangladesh, exemplifies its commitment to fostering inclusive and action-driven regional cooperation. Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, emphasized the need for member nations to consolidate their efforts to expand BIMSTEC’s capabilities in economic integration, disaster preparation, and sustainable development projects. A significant aspect of the conference was establishing commercial connections and enhancing disaster assistance capacities in response to recent natural disasters affecting the area. Therefore, the BIMSTEC has promising prospects for future advancement as Bangladesh takes the helm, primarily because of its potential to position itself as a contemporary platform that transcends conventional blocs to fulfill its foundational objective.

The leadership role taken by Bangladesh will be crucial for promoting BIMSTEC objectives and enhancing interstate interconnection. Moreover, Bangladesh, inspired by Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus's pioneering "Three Zeros" framework—zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions—has actively engaged in the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the advancement of an inclusive **Indo-Pacific strategy**. Thus, the strategic dimensions of Bangladesh’s leadership in BIMSTEC, examining how Bangladesh's proactive engagement may enhance regional integration, promote security cooperation, and strengthen collective resilience within the evolving Indo-Pacific context, is a significant topic in global political discussion. Accordingly, the question posits whether Bangladesh’s leadership in BIMSTEC can provide an optimal framework for regional cooperation.

The guiding principles of Bangladesh’s Indo-Pacific vision assert that sustainable development, peace, security, humanitarian action, and fundamental rights rely on regional and international cooperation. In this regard, Bangladesh’s dedication to a free and open Indo-Pacific is consistent with its constitutional ideals of sovereignty, equality, non-interference, peaceful conflict settlement, and compliance with international law. Consequently, as the chair of BIMSTEC, Bangladesh will have the opportunity to underscore its commitment to regional cooperation by leading the organization with extensive initiatives across various sectors.

The primary objective of BIMSTEC is to enhance rapid economic growth and social development in the Bay of Bengal area, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Bangladesh is advancing inclusive economic growth and poverty alleviation via international trade. In particular, Bangladesh can enhance economic security via BIMSTEC by promoting vital regional value chains in textile manufacturing, pharmaceutical innovation, and agricultural processing. In addition, concerning social security within the BIMSTEC region, Bangladesh needs to lead initiatives in food and health security by endorsing cooperative structures, such as a regional food security task force, promoting sustainable agriculture, traditional medicine, and eco-friendly technology.

Notably, a significant enhancement in regional connectivity was achieved with the completion of the protocol for executing the BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement (MVA) in 2025 among Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal, designed to enable the unrestricted transit of passenger, personal, and cargo vehicles among these nations.

BIMSTEC's anti-corruption initiatives primarily emphasize promoting international collaboration to address corruption, which is a significant impediment to sustainable development and effective government. Bangladesh, as a committed member state, aims to combat corruption and engage in the global anti-corruption movement to foster a free and open Indo-Pacific region. In 2025, adopting a zero-tolerance policy, Bangladesh and Thailand signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance international collaboration in the collective fight against corruption. At the same time, a vision and significant potential exist to guarantee the freedom of navigation and the security and security of maritime communication channels in the Indian Ocean. As a result, as the head of BIMSTEC, Bangladesh may establish a robust security framework founded on mutual trust and collaboration, particularly with its neighboring countries, India and Myanmar. Ensuring the **security of maritime routes** will be crucial for achieving shared prosperity and peace in the region. The interim government has pursued change in essential national sectors and institutions, including the police, courts, and constitution. Moreover, the **Force Goal 2030 military modernization policy** aims to enhance the Army, Navy, and Air Force as components of a broader reform initiative. The modernization of Bangladesh’s military will certainly bolster its national security and contribute to collective security efforts and regional stability. Additionally, it enhances its credibility in promoting and organizing defense diplomacy initiatives, naval cooperation frameworks, and joint military exercises within the BIMSTEC framework.

Nonetheless, enhancing global climate collaboration is essential for sustainable development in the Indo-Pacific area. Dr. Muhammad Yunus posits that his "Three Zeros" concept may substantially facilitate the attainment of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 13 - Climate Action. At the COP29 climate conference, Muhammad Yunus asserted that Bangladesh is prepared to partner with the 'Climate Club', an international effort aimed at enhancing global climate collaboration and promoting industrial decarbonization. Furthermore, he advocated for enhanced international cooperation, technology transfer, and concessional finance to assist developing countries in adopting green technologies, along with initiatives such as carbon border adjustments that impose taxes on imports based on their carbon footprint.

Taking the role of leadership offers many advantages for every nation. The adoption of the **BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030** is the first Vision Document of BIMSTEC, providing a comprehensive and pragmatic framework for future cooperation among member states to achieve the goal of a Prosperous, Resilient, and Open BIMSTEC. As such, as the chairman, Bangladesh will have a significant chance to articulate its views inside the organization. Moreover, as Bangladesh seeks to align itself with ASEAN, it will provide a new avenue for negotiations with Thailand, a key member of BIMSTEC.

It is anticipated that, under Bangladesh’s leadership, regional cooperation will attain a new dimension through this platform. However, the total efficacy of BIMSTEC’s activities will mostly rely on the genuine collaboration and dedication of its member nations. SAARC as a South Asian regional organisation should be strengthened to promote collaboration between South and Southeast Asia, as BIMSTEC links Bangladesh and a few other South Asian nations to Southeast Asian nations for improved economic development.