Two important alliances in Bangladesh’s foreign policy to strengthen regional cooperation are the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). As a founding member of SAARC, Bangladesh has always played an active role in making this alliance effective. However, in recent years, due to the stagnation of SAARC and geopolitical realities, the importance of BIMSTEC has increased significantly. Analyzing Bangladesh’s role in these two forums, it can be seen that the two countries are trying to strengthen their geopolitical and economic position through the alliance.
Role of SAARC and Bangladesh
SAARC was formed in 1985 at the initiative of the then President of Bangladesh, Ziaur Rahman. The main objective of this alliance was to increase economic, social, and cultural cooperation among the countries of South Asia. Bangladesh, as a founding member of SAARC, has always been sincere in fulfilling the goals of this alliance. In particular, Bangladesh’s role in trade, agriculture, poverty alleviation, and people-to-people contacts was undeniable. Through SAARC, Bangladesh got the opportunity to join a multilateral platform beyond its bilateral relations with India.
However, SAARC’s activities have been stagnant for almost a decade due to the political dispute between India and Pakistan. The alliance has become practically ineffective since there has been no summit since 2014. Bangladesh has always wanted to play a constructive role in resolving this crisis. Although Bangladesh is disappointed with the current state of SAARC, it is still hopeful about reviving the alliance. Recently, the interim government of Bangladesh has also expressed interest in reactivating SAARC.
BIMSTEC and Bangladesh’s strategic position
Against the backdrop of SAARC’s failure, BIMSTEC has emerged as a new and promising platform for Bangladesh. BIMSTEC was formed in 1997, and Bangladesh is its founding member. Five of the member countries of this alliance are from South Asia (Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka) and two from Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Thailand). Its headquarters are also in Bangladesh, which further increases Bangladesh’s influence on the alliance.
BIMSTEC is important for Bangladesh for several reasons. First, it acts as a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia. Through this, Bangladesh can increase trade and communication with ASEAN countries. Second, BIMSTEC is a platform where the political conflict between India and Pakistan is not affected. Therefore, it is easy to work on regional cooperation effectively through this alliance.
Bangladesh is trying to increase cooperation in important areas such as trade and investment, transport, energy, technology, tourism, and climate change through BIMSTEC. In particular, the BIMSTEC platform is very important for Bangladesh to benefit from the “blue economy” of the Bay of Bengal. Projects such as port infrastructure development and regional power grids can be implemented through this alliance, which will play a major role in Bangladesh’s economic growth.
Both SAARC and BIMSTEC are integral parts of Bangladesh’s foreign policy to strengthen regional cooperation. Bangladesh once developed relations with South Asian countries through SAARC, but due to the stagnation of the alliance, BIMSTEC is now more relevant for Bangladesh. Through BIMSTEC, Bangladesh is deepening relations with its neighboring countries on the one hand, and on the other hand, strengthening its geopolitical position by establishing connections with Southeast Asian countries. If Bangladesh can utilize the economic and strategic potential centered around BIMSTEC, it can become an important center in the region.
