Foreign Minister Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen on Sunday said that Bangladesh is keen to intensify political, trade, economic and cultural ties with the ASEAN countries.
He said this while addressing an event organised by the ASEAN Dhaka Committee in observance of the 54th ASEAN Day.
Dr. Momen said that having a strong tie with the ASEAN countries is “by any standard a key Foreign Policy priority” of the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“With a large manufacturing base, Bangladesh stands to be one of ASEAN’s strongest partners and an attractive destination for the ASEAN investors,” he said.
The Bangladesh Foreign Minister suggested that among the priority issues in which Bangladesh and ASEAN countries can forge partnership are: poverty alleviation, counter-terrorism, climate change, water resources management, migration, disaster management, agriculture and ICT.
On the Rohingya repatriation issue, Dr. Momen said that the prolonged presence of such a huge number of displaced people entails serious ramifications for the socio-political stability of not only Bangladesh but also of the entire region including the ASEAN.
He sought intervention from the ASEAN for a speedy repatriation of the Rohingyas to their motherland.
Dr. Momen also sought support from the ASEAN countries on Bangladesh’s application for the status of ASEAN Sectoral Partner.
Chair of the ASEAN Dhaka Committee, the High Commissioner of Malaysia to Bangladesh Haznah Md. Hashim, the High Commissioner of Brunei to Bangladesh Haji Haris Haji Othman and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen also addressed the event.
The virtual event was held with the theme “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper”.
In her speech, Haznah Md Hashim, as the current Chair of ADC, highlighted the achievement of ASEAN, after 54 years since its establishment, in bringing peace and prosperity to the region, and that ASEAN has been working together in finding a sustainable response to the current pandemic.
She further reiterated the significance of ASEAN-Bangladesh relations, and that the ADC will continue to play an active and constructive role as the bridge for the ASEAN Member States in engaging the host government.
The ADC was established in the year 2014 and comprised eight ASEAN Missions based in Dhaka.
They are the High Commission of Brunei Darussalam, Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, High Commission of Malaysia, Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Embassy of Republic of the Philippines, Consulate of the Republic of Singapore, Embassy of the Kingdom of Thailand, and Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.
The ADC chair is rotated every six months and is currently being chaired by Malaysia.
