The permanent secretariat of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is going to be inaugurated in Dhaka on Saturday.
It is the first headquarters of any inter-governmental organisation in Bangladesh, the foreign ministry said, describing it as “a great diplomatic achievement” of the present government.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the secretariat at Dhaka’s Gulshan and release a commemorative stamp to mark the event.
Dhaka believes hosting the Secretariat will “enhance the image” of Bangladesh within the international community and “deepen mutual understanding and cooperation” with the seven member states.
The grouping was established on June 6, 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration as Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand Economic Cooperation.
Later Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan joined and the group was renamed as BIMSTEC.
The member states stressed the potential of this group in matters of trade and connectivity, but analysts say BIMSTEC is short on achievements so far.
Organising the summit had been the BIMSTEC’s only achievement, a former ambassador, M Humayun Kabir, had told bdnews24.com before Feb summit in Myanmar.
The member states agreed on a free-trade zone connecting South East Asia and South Asia in 2004 but failed to implement the plans.
Officials say the rules and regulations are yet to be finalised.
The grouping is now promoting 14 priority sectors of development and common concerns.
These include trade and investment, technology, energy, transport and communication, tourism, fisheries, agriculture, cultural cooperation, environment and disaster management, public health, people-to-people contact, poverty alleviation, counter-terrorism and transnational crimes, and climate change.
The process of setting up a permanent secretariat in Dhaka has begun after Feb summit when a memorandum of understanding has been inked in this regard.
Sri Lanka was a strong contender for hosting the secretariat, but later it was agreed that the first Secretary General will be appointed from Sri Lanka.
India backed Bangladesh and announced its readiness to bear 32 percent of the expenditure for setting up the secretariat in Dhaka before the Feb summit.
A career diplomat of Colombo Sumith Nakandala has already joined as the Secretary General. He met with the Prime Minister and foreign minister and sought their support for carrying out activities.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said the government was keen to make the headquarters operational.
He also assured him of the government’s “fullest support”.
Source: Bd news24