Bangladesh's interim Chief Adviser, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may meet on the sidelines of the upcoming BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok next month. Though the exact dates of the summit are yet to be confirmed, it is anticipated to take place in November. Thailand will host the event, which brings together nations from the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
Bangladesh is set to assume the chairmanship of BIMSTEC after the summit, a significant responsibility for the nation. The member countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand—have stressed the need for enhanced physical, maritime, and digital connectivity to boost economic ties and people-to-people exchanges. Discussions will likely also focus on opportunities for capacity building and skill development across the region.
Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain hinted at a possible meeting between Dr. Yunus and PM Modi during the summit. While addressing a press conference on Tuesday regarding Bangladesh's participation in the UN General Assembly and other current issues, Hossain mentioned that a bilateral meeting might take place during the BIMSTEC summit.
Hossain also noted that although a meeting in New York between the two leaders could not happen due to scheduling conflicts, there remains hope for future discussions at the BIMSTEC summit.
The BIMSTEC bloc, established on June 6, 1997, through the signing of the Bangkok Declaration, unites five South Asian countries and two Southeast Asian nations. Together, they account for 22 percent of the global population and have a combined GDP of $4.5 trillion. The BIMSTEC Secretariat, set up in Dhaka in 2014, provides a structured framework for cooperation.
Each of the seven member nations leads a sector within BIMSTEC. Bangladesh heads trade, investment, and development initiatives, including the blue economy, while India oversees security, disaster management, and energy. Bhutan leads environmental and climate change efforts, Myanmar takes charge of agriculture and food security, Nepal fosters people-to-people contact, Sri Lanka advances science and technology, and Thailand focuses on connectivity.
Once the summit concludes, Bangladesh will officially take over the chairmanship of the forum, marking a significant milestone in regional cooperation.
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