Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will urge members of the BIMSTEC to enhance collective efforts for the development of the Bay of Bengal.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said this on Wednesday while briefing the press on the upcoming BIMSTEC summit which will be held on March 30.
Hasina and other leaders of the group will attend the summit virtually.
Dr Momen said the summit would also approve the charter of the organisation that highlights regional trade and connectivity.
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) comprises India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Sri Lanka.
The last summit took place in Kathmandu in 2018.
Several instruments, including the BIMSTEC Charter, BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, Memorandum of Association on the Establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility (TTF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Mutual Cooperation between Diplomatic Academies/Training Institutions of BIMSTEC Member States, will be signed in the upcoming summit.
The theme of this year's summit is 'BIMSTEC-Towards a Resilient Region, Prosperous Economies, Healthy Peoples'.
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will inaugurate the summit, said Mr Momen, adding that the 18th meeting of the BIMSTEC foreign ministers would be held on March 29.
The Bangladesh prime minister will also stress the need for further improvement of the lives of the people of the region through ensuring sustainable development, said the foreign minister.
The premier will also highlight the importance of regional cooperation on post-Covid recovery, combating regional terrorism and collective efforts for promotion of trade and connectivity, Dr Momen added.
Besides two documents, namely 'Rationalization and Reorganization of Sectors and Sub-sectors of BIMSTEC' and 'BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity', may be adopted in the summit.
The approval of the BIMSTEC charter, after the 25 years of the inception of the organisation, will pave the way for turning the organisation more dynamic and effective, Dr Momen noted.
RAB Sanction
Responding to a question, foreign minister said Bangladesh was in discussion with the US on the issue of withdrawal of sanction against RAB by the Biden administration.
This is a process, the minister said, adding that several steps would be needed for the withdrawal and the country was working on it.
He said in his upcoming meeting with the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, the issue would be raised.
The other agenda of the meeting include bilateral cooperation on trade, security, democratic practices, Mr Momen mentioned.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com