Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. A K Abdul Momen said that Rohingya crisis has the potential to destabilize the whole region unless the international community intensifies their efforts to eventuate the sustainable repatriation of the 1.2 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas, temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh, to their homeland Myanmar.
The Foreign Minister made these remarks at a seminar held on Saturday at BIISS auditorium in Dhaka organized by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and the Bangladesh Foundation for Regional Studies.
He stated that the protracted Rohingya crisis continues to weigh heavily on Bangladesh and hence a fast and sustainable settlement of the Rohingya crisis is a centerpiece to promote peace, security and stability in the region.
At the seminar it was discussed that the Indo-Pacific region is of great strategic importance to Bangladesh and the world at large. It is home to some of the busiest sea
lanes, important trade routes, and a diverse range of cultures and societies. The region is also facing a plethora of complex and shared challenges, from economic development and environmental protection to security. Bangladesh enjoys strong economic, cultural, and diplomatic ties with countries of the Indo-Pacific region. Being a littoral State of the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh considers the stability in and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific crucial in realizing her ‘Vision 2041’ of becoming a “Smart Bangladesh’ that is characterized by prosperity, social responsiveness, technological dynamism and long-term resilience.
“We believe that mutual understanding, cooperation and collaboration among the Indo-Pacific countries are essential for stability, peace, and prosperity of the region, in particular, and the world at large. We are committed to working with our regional partners to pursue regional and sub-regional integration through connectivity, and jointly address shared challenges such as climate change and maritime security. Bangladesh’s growing multimodal connectivity with India through highways, inland and coastal waterways, railways and airways, restoration of severed connectivity after the 1965 India-Pakistan war, energy connectivity through projects like India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline for transporting diesel, cross-border power grid connectivity, digital connectivity, and subregional extension of such connectivity with other neighbours through arrangements like BIN MVA (Bangladesh India Nepal Motor Vehicle Agreement) are demonstration of Bangladesh’s commitment towards regional integration. Now Bangladesh has become a connectivity Hub as we believe, connectivity is productivity”, the foreign minister adds.
The foreign minister observed that Bangladesh has become a poster child of development due to being one of the fastest-growing economies in the world with inclusive socio-economic progress, rapid reduction of poverty, women empowerment, and transformational power-energy-connectivity-digital infrastructure. “With rapid economic expansion coupled with geostrategic location, Bangladesh is bound to attract higher attention of the international community, which has been the case in recent times. Mindful of our enhanced roles and responsibility in the region, we have been pursuing inclusive engagements with all countries of the region’, he added.
He further stated that our ‘Indo-Pacific Outlook’ encapsulates our rules of engagements drawn from our longstanding principles of friendship to all and malice towards none, respect for national sovereignty and equality, political independence, non-interference in other’s international affairs, respect for international law and principles as enunciated in the UN Charter, adherence to the relevant UN treaties and international conventions, including the 1982 UNLCOS.
“We are committed to the regional and multilateral mechanisms and actively participate in the forums such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), BIMSTEC, ASEAN Regional Forum ARF that are promoting dialogue and cooperation among member states and partners on regional and global issues. Works done by such forums are creating greater synergies among the countries of the region and contributing meaningfully to the objectives of the Indo-Pacific Outlooks or Strategies floated by the countries and partners of the region. IORA’s adoption of Indo-Pacific Outlook, under Bangladesh’s chairmanship, which laid out the common denomination of engagement of the IORA member states in the maritime domain is an example of the responsible roles that Bangladesh seeks to play in the regional discourse. Our hosting of the Indian Ocean Conference on 12-13 May this year in partnership with India to promote dialogue among the littoral countries of the Indian Ocean demonstrates our commitment to promoting dialogue for a free, open, peaceful, secure, and inclusive Indo-Pacific for shared prosperity”, he reiterated.
The foreign minister further expressed that the Bay of Bengal is an area rich in untapped natural resources, including significant reserves of gas and other seabed minerals, and possibly rare-earth minerals. “It occupies a central position in relation to global trade flows. We have resolved maritime disputes with Myanmar and India, and it is now time for us to use these resources. We seek international partnership and foreign investment to responsibly harness the potential of the sea”, he added. The foreign minister indicated that the rich treasures of the Bay are also associated with transnational threats like the trafficking of narcotics, weapons and people; illegal exploitation of natural resources; externally and internationally displaced persons; terrorist groups; and increasingly, natural disasters and adverse changes in the climate, which disrupt national, regional and ultimately global stability and security.
“Additionally, with only a meter rise in the sea-level there will be a displacement of 20 to 30 million people inside Bangladesh alone. In a word, the Bay of Bengal is critical for our existence. Waters and seas also absorb global warming and therefore, it is critical for all of us to especially, protect and preserve the temperature of waters and seas to save this planet earth”, he added.
According to the minister, combatting climate change, sustainable use of the seas and ocean, de-carbonization and clean energy, expansion of trade and investment, supply chain resilience, investing in and connecting people and building a sustainable and green future feature commonly in the visions for Indo-Pacific of most countries. He invited everyone to pivot the commonalities to secure a better future for this region. Bangladesh’s partnership with Japan on the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt or BIG-B initiative in southeastern Bangladesh is creating a connectivity hub for the region. “We are keen to be the bridge that South Asia and Southeast Asia needs for greater integration of the two sub-regions and to make the Indo-Pacific region more connected. We are ready to scale up cross-border multimodal connectivity and seek more international partnership to advance such ambition. Bangladesh is keen to embrace the opportunities that enhance economic cooperation, connectivity, and ensure holistic security of this region”, he added.
Link : Here
He stated that the protracted Rohingya crisis continues to weigh heavily on Bangladesh and hence a fast and sustainable settlement of the Rohingya crisis is a centerpiece to promote peace, security and stability in the region.
At the seminar it was discussed that the Indo-Pacific region is of great strategic importance to Bangladesh and the world at large. It is home to some of the busiest sea
lanes, important trade routes, and a diverse range of cultures and societies. The region is also facing a plethora of complex and shared challenges, from economic development and environmental protection to security. Bangladesh enjoys strong economic, cultural, and diplomatic ties with countries of the Indo-Pacific region. Being a littoral State of the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh considers the stability in and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific crucial in realizing her ‘Vision 2041’ of becoming a “Smart Bangladesh’ that is characterized by prosperity, social responsiveness, technological dynamism and long-term resilience.
“We believe that mutual understanding, cooperation and collaboration among the Indo-Pacific countries are essential for stability, peace, and prosperity of the region, in particular, and the world at large. We are committed to working with our regional partners to pursue regional and sub-regional integration through connectivity, and jointly address shared challenges such as climate change and maritime security. Bangladesh’s growing multimodal connectivity with India through highways, inland and coastal waterways, railways and airways, restoration of severed connectivity after the 1965 India-Pakistan war, energy connectivity through projects like India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline for transporting diesel, cross-border power grid connectivity, digital connectivity, and subregional extension of such connectivity with other neighbours through arrangements like BIN MVA (Bangladesh India Nepal Motor Vehicle Agreement) are demonstration of Bangladesh’s commitment towards regional integration. Now Bangladesh has become a connectivity Hub as we believe, connectivity is productivity”, the foreign minister adds.
The foreign minister observed that Bangladesh has become a poster child of development due to being one of the fastest-growing economies in the world with inclusive socio-economic progress, rapid reduction of poverty, women empowerment, and transformational power-energy-connectivity-digital infrastructure. “With rapid economic expansion coupled with geostrategic location, Bangladesh is bound to attract higher attention of the international community, which has been the case in recent times. Mindful of our enhanced roles and responsibility in the region, we have been pursuing inclusive engagements with all countries of the region’, he added.
He further stated that our ‘Indo-Pacific Outlook’ encapsulates our rules of engagements drawn from our longstanding principles of friendship to all and malice towards none, respect for national sovereignty and equality, political independence, non-interference in other’s international affairs, respect for international law and principles as enunciated in the UN Charter, adherence to the relevant UN treaties and international conventions, including the 1982 UNLCOS.
“We are committed to the regional and multilateral mechanisms and actively participate in the forums such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), BIMSTEC, ASEAN Regional Forum ARF that are promoting dialogue and cooperation among member states and partners on regional and global issues. Works done by such forums are creating greater synergies among the countries of the region and contributing meaningfully to the objectives of the Indo-Pacific Outlooks or Strategies floated by the countries and partners of the region. IORA’s adoption of Indo-Pacific Outlook, under Bangladesh’s chairmanship, which laid out the common denomination of engagement of the IORA member states in the maritime domain is an example of the responsible roles that Bangladesh seeks to play in the regional discourse. Our hosting of the Indian Ocean Conference on 12-13 May this year in partnership with India to promote dialogue among the littoral countries of the Indian Ocean demonstrates our commitment to promoting dialogue for a free, open, peaceful, secure, and inclusive Indo-Pacific for shared prosperity”, he reiterated.
The foreign minister further expressed that the Bay of Bengal is an area rich in untapped natural resources, including significant reserves of gas and other seabed minerals, and possibly rare-earth minerals. “It occupies a central position in relation to global trade flows. We have resolved maritime disputes with Myanmar and India, and it is now time for us to use these resources. We seek international partnership and foreign investment to responsibly harness the potential of the sea”, he added. The foreign minister indicated that the rich treasures of the Bay are also associated with transnational threats like the trafficking of narcotics, weapons and people; illegal exploitation of natural resources; externally and internationally displaced persons; terrorist groups; and increasingly, natural disasters and adverse changes in the climate, which disrupt national, regional and ultimately global stability and security.
“Additionally, with only a meter rise in the sea-level there will be a displacement of 20 to 30 million people inside Bangladesh alone. In a word, the Bay of Bengal is critical for our existence. Waters and seas also absorb global warming and therefore, it is critical for all of us to especially, protect and preserve the temperature of waters and seas to save this planet earth”, he added.
According to the minister, combatting climate change, sustainable use of the seas and ocean, de-carbonization and clean energy, expansion of trade and investment, supply chain resilience, investing in and connecting people and building a sustainable and green future feature commonly in the visions for Indo-Pacific of most countries. He invited everyone to pivot the commonalities to secure a better future for this region. Bangladesh’s partnership with Japan on the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt or BIG-B initiative in southeastern Bangladesh is creating a connectivity hub for the region. “We are keen to be the bridge that South Asia and Southeast Asia needs for greater integration of the two sub-regions and to make the Indo-Pacific region more connected. We are ready to scale up cross-border multimodal connectivity and seek more international partnership to advance such ambition. Bangladesh is keen to embrace the opportunities that enhance economic cooperation, connectivity, and ensure holistic security of this region”, he added.
Link : Here
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