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PM wants unity across Bay

Opens BIMSTEC Secretariat

Diplomatic Correspondent
Putting emphasis on pragmatic and realistic approach for achieving overall development and progress, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called for greater cooperation among the BIMSTEC members.
"The BIMSTEC provides a formidable platform for developing deeper understanding and cooperation between our neighbours and work for progress and prosperity of the people of the region," she told the inauguration of the regional organisation's headquarters in the capital.
The PM unveiled the plaque of the permanent secretariat of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) at the city's Gulshan.
"Opening of the secretariat is the culmination of our collective resolve to create a better and more prosperous future," she said.
"Today is truly a historic day for Bangladesh and the BIMSTEC. It makes the beginning of a new journey towards greater and more intense cooperation for this unique regional organisation that bridges South Asia and the Southeast Asia," added Hasina.
She put forward a six-point proposal, which includes poverty alleviation, cooperation in agriculture sector, making effective the Framework Agreement on BIMSTEC Free Trade Area, improvement of the regional connectivity, cooperation in energy sector and united efforts to
face the challenges of climate change.
About poverty alleviation, she said unless the platform can address the issue of poverty most comprehensively, all economic gains would be meaningless.
She suggested that the BIMSTEC members bolster cooperation in agriculture as majority of the people of this region depend on agriculture for their employment.
On the BIMSTEC FTA, she said though the agreement on goods trade is at the final stage, the deals on other issues like service trade and investment protection still remains at a very initial stage. She emphasised prompt signing of the agreements in the interest of economic harmony in the region.
She underscored the importance of developing communications system. Underdeveloped communications system is one of the main barriers to economic development of this region, the PM pointed out.
"The BIMSTEC is a huge potential area for hydropower in the Himalaya basin
and hydrocarbon in the Bay of Bengal. The member nations have to work together to tap the potential and build up energy security in this region," she mentioned.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam and BIMSTEC Secretary General Sumith Nakandala also spoke
Later, the PM unveiled a commemorative postal stamp ofTk 4 denomination and a 10-taka opening envelope on the occasion.
Ambassadors and high commissioners of BIMSTEC countries, foreign diplomats and top government officials were present
The BIMSTEC secretariat has been set up on an abandoned property at House-6, Road- 53 of Gulshan-2, which was previously occupied by Haris Chowdhury, then political secretary to the prime minister during the BNP-led alliance government's tenure of 2001-2006.