Indian Ocean Conference in Dhaka May 12

Diplomatic Correspondent  :
With the theme of ‘Peace, Prosperity and Partnership for a Resilient Future’, the sixth edition of the Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) is going to be commenced in the capital on Friday.

Representatives from approximately 25 countries, including the President of Mauritius Prithvirajsing Roopun, the Vice-President of Maldives Faisal Naseem and Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, among others, will attend the event.

The Conference will jointly be organised by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the renowned think tank ‘India Foundation’ under India’s Ministry of External Affairs in a city hotel on May 12-13.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said this during the curtain raiser of the IOC-2023 in the
Foreign Ministry on Wednesday. He was also flanked by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam and Secretary of Maritime Affairs Unit Rear Admiral (Retd) Md. Khurshed Alam.

“I hope that around 150 foreign delegates will visit Bangladesh to participate in the conference. Apart from the member states, other friendly countries have also confirmed their participation,” Dr Momen said.

He said that the President of Mauritius, the Vice President of Maldives, and representatives from India, Bhutan, Nepal, Bahrain, and Singapore will attend the event. Indian Foreign Minister will also attend the event.

Additionally, ministers from Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Madagascar, and deputy ministers from Sri Lanka, Japan, Cambodia, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as high-level representatives from Somalia and Vietnam, will be participating.
Representatives from the Philippines, the United States, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Thailand, and Germany are also expected to attend the conference at the senior government level. Officials from SAARC and BIMSTEC, as well as renowned scholars, intellectuals, representatives of civil society, and media personnel, are expected to attend the conference, he said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has graciously approved the IOC in principle and will inaugurate the event as well as host a banquet in honor of the guests attending the conference.

Regarding the significance of the event, Dr Momen said, “We hope that through this conference, there will be fruitful discussions and valuable recommendations regarding the challenges and issues faced in the Indian Ocean region. These discussions and recommendations will play a crucial role in shaping the future plans and strategies for this region.”
The hosting of the IOC-2023 in Bangladesh is expected to strengthen Bangladesh’s active participation in the regional geopolitical arena alongside other Indian Ocean littoral countries, he said.
“Considering the dynamic geo-political and geo-economic realities, I believe that organising this conference will further enhance Bangladesh’s position as a significant stakeholder in the international community,” he stressed.
The participation of heads of state, vice presidents, foreign ministers, and ministers from numerous countries worldwide will be the culmination of the country’s comprehensive diplomatic efforts, showcasing Bangladesh’s importance on both the global political and economic landscapes, he pointed out.
Highlighting the importance of the event for all participants, he said, “From the discussions, participating countries will gain insights into the types of steps they can take in the future in response to ongoing global events. These insights will help them tackle various crisis situations and make necessary decisions for the betterment of their respective countries.”

About the benefits of Bangladesh out of this event, he said, “Overall, Bangladesh’s position, initiatives, and capabilities in various emerging and current global issues can be highlighted and presented to the international community through the Conference.
In addition to the inaugural ceremony, on May 12, there will be four pre-sessions and on May 13, there will be four thematic sessions with the participation of invited ministers and ministerial-level representatives who will deliver speeches.

Furthermore, on the morning of May 13, representatives of the visiting ministers will visit the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi in the capital.

About the participation of the President of Mauritius in IOC, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam said that his visit would be very significant as Bangladesh has relations apparel and agriculture sector.

The upcoming visit of the President of Mauritius, accompanied by his wife, to Dhaka will mark their first official tour. During their stay, the President is scheduled to hold a meeting with the President of Bangladesh, Mohammed Shahabuddin. Additionally, the Mauritius President plans to visit the Dhakeshwari Temple, a renowned religious site in the capital.

About the visit of Jaishankar, Dr Momen said, “We are very delighted that Indian External Affairs Minister will attend the Conference. The event will not be successful without India as the country has a big ocean. Certainly we have probability of holding meetings with him on our bilateral issues.

S Jaishankar will also likely to have a courtesy call with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the ministry said.
About the participation of Myanmar to IOC, Dr Momen said, “We have only one problem with Myanmar. It is the Rohingya crisis. We are continuing our efforts to resolve it. We have not invited them.”