The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) does not deal with issues that are political in nature, its Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey said today.
Responding to a question on whether BIMSTEC could play a role in resolving the Rohingya crisis, Pandey said, "As of now, our agenda, as I explained to you, does not include issues that are political in nature. So, that's where the matter stands."
Pandey was speaking to members of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) at the BIMSTEC headquarters in Dhaka, reports UNB.
Asked about comparisons between BIMSTEC and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Pandey described them as "misleading and misplaced", saying they undermine BIMSTEC's interests.
"My request has always been that BIMSTEC's vision be appreciated in its own right, and it should not be seen in the context of any other organisation, which has its own history and achievements," he said.
BIMSTEC comprises seven countries in the Bay of Bengal region: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
The grouping is often regarded as an alternative platform for regional cooperation amid the decline of SAARC, largely attributed to the India-Pakistan rivalry.
Pandey said BIMSTEC was poised to emerge as a leading regional organisation in the Indo-Pacific, noting that it has made significant institutional progress since its establishment in 1997 and has evolved into a stronger platform for cooperation between South Asia and Southeast Asia.
He said the organisation was created to bring the two regions closer through practical and tangible cooperation, particularly in technical and economic fields.
Pandey added that BIMSTEC is undergoing reforms and revitalisation to become a more efficient, effective and dynamic regional organisation.
He said the organisation has achieved notable milestones over the years, including adopting its charter, developing institutional mechanisms and formulating a long-term vision document, reflecting its growing maturity as a regional body.
On regional challenges, Pandey said Bangladesh faces security and development challenges similar to those of other BIMSTEC member states, which cannot be addressed by any country alone.
He said BIMSTEC is negotiating a BIMSTEC Motor Vehicles Agreement, while India has proposed establishing a BIMSTEC Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre.
Pandey also said BIMSTEC has decided to institutionalise meetings of home ministers to strengthen regional security cooperation. The inaugural meeting is scheduled to be hosted by India in October 2026.
He said the BIMSTEC Plan of Action on countering radicalisation and terrorism has been finalised, while an action matrix for its implementation is under consideration.
An action matrix for implementing the finalised Plan of Action to combat human trafficking has also been developed, he added.
Pandey said BIMSTEC is considering measures to facilitate travel across member states, including visa facilitation and the introduction of a BIMSTEC visa facilitation scheme.
