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Mauritius meet from Nov 24

Dhaka may become IORARC member

By M Anwarul Haq
Bangladesh is likely to be included as a member of the 14-nation Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IORARC) In its forthcoming meeting to be held in Mauritius, according to diplomatic sources.
The Working Group on
Membership of the IORARC will meet in Mauritius on November 24 and 25 where Bangladesh is expected to get its admittance into the new Asia-Pacific economic grouping, the courses said.
The new grouping was initiated with the objective of forg-aa new economic bloc of the ral states of the Asia-Pacific region to provide a common platform to augment and diversify trade among the member states.
Bangladesh had always been keen on entering the new Souping formally launched in arch this year.
Although there are 47 countries in the Indian Ocean Rim. Bangladesh, the third largest country in the region, was initially never considered for being included as a member. Besides Bangladesh, two other SAARC countries. Pakistan and the Maldives who are also littoral states, have not been included In the (IORARC) which was launched through a two-day meeting of foreign ministers in Mauritius on March 6 and 7.
During the formative stage of the organisation, initially known as Indian Ocean Rim (IOR), the Indian government, in
1995, reportedly opposed the inclusion of several countries Including Bangladesh. India reportedly lifted its objection after Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina conferred with former prime minister Deve Gowda and former external affairs minister IK Gujral earlier this year.
Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad also sent letters to his counterparts in 14 countries of the IOR alliance urging that Bangladesh be accepted as a member of the new bloc.
The idea of the Indian Ocean Rim grouping was first mooted during a visit of former foreign minister of South Africa P Botha to New Delhi in November, 1993. The first meeting that floated the concept- of the Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) was held in Mauritius in May, 1995. Those who were key movers were India and South Africa along with Australia. Oman. Kenya. Singapore and Mauritius. These seven countries
formed the Initial core group. In the second phase, a consensus was reached among the core members and seven more countries were accepted as members.
The countries who secured their membership in the second stage were Sri Lanka. Malaysia. Indonesia. Yemen. Tanzania. Mozambique and Madagascar, raising the Association's strength to the present level of 14 members.
"The application for Bangladesh's admittance as a full member of the Association is now almost certain." said a ranking official of the Foreign Ministry
Meanwhile Bangladesh along with some countries have been attending the Track-2' meetings held under the aegis of the Indian Oceap Rim Consultative Business Network (IORCBN) and Indian Ocean Rim Research Network (IORRN) held in New Delhi and Durban.