Bangladesh believes in a free and open Indo-Pacific region and an international rule-based system, and is eager to harness the potential of blue economy with support from all, said foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.

He made the remark in his chief guest's video message on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at an international conference titled "Moving Forward in the Indo-Pacific: Bangladesh's role in fostering an open, resilient, and interconnected Bay of Bengal and beyond". 

The conference was jointly organized by The Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies (CBoBS) of Indepdent University, Bangladesh (IUB) and the US Embassy in Bangladesh, a press release said.

In the opening session, US Ambassador Peter Haas said: “Bangladesh has set an example to the world by committing to the peaceful resolution of its land and maritime border disputes."

In his welcome remark, Tanweer Hasan, PhD, Vice-chancellor of IUB, said: “The issues of interconnectedness and Regional Corporation are of great importance to a nation like Bangladesh, and our nation has embraced the philosophy of peace and focused on sustaining fruitful and healthy relationships with all countries especially will our friends in the Indo Pacific”.

Ambassador (retd) Tariq A Karim, Director of CBoBS, who moderated the opening session in the morning, said: “We connect the Indian Ocean with the Pacific; we brought civilization from the west to the east and from the east to the west and we shall continue doing that.” 

In the concluding session later in the afternoon, Prof. Dr. Gowher Rizvi, Advisor to the Prime Minister, said: "There is enormous focus in the region and this conference is very encouraging and will strengthen US Bangladesh relationship to greater heights."

Saber Hossain Chowdhury, MP, Chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, who spoke in the concluding session, said: "Our region is the fastest growing in the world, accounting for 60% of the global economy. And our youth has a great role in it. What happens in this region will shape the trajectory of the entire world”.

Indian High Commissioner, secretaries from the foreign ministry, sector specialists, academicians and researchers also spoke at the event among others.

BDST: 1704 HRS, APR 05, 2022
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