BD proposes BIMSTEC emergency relief fund
Staff Reporter :
On regional and global issues of common concern, Bangladesh put forward the proposal of creating an emergency relief fund that may address the contingencies resulting from public health pandemic, natural disasters and humanitarian crisis.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Abdul Momen flagged that BIMSTEC may create institutions similar to ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Centre (AHA).
He said, this during the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ Retreat held on 17 July in Bangkok, Thailand. This is the first ever BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ Retreat, a press release of the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
The Retreat was attended by all the Foreign Ministers of BIMSTEC Member States and the Secretary General of BIMSTEC. The Foreign Ministers had an in-depth discussion on strengthening BIMSTEC mechanism as well as exchange of views on regional and global issues of common concern.
While discussing on BIMSTEC related issues, they focused on defining concept of external partners, establishing the Eminent Persons’ Group and holding of BIMSTEC Foreign Ministerial retreat on a regular basis.
Highlighting the post pandemic economic recovery, Momen stressed introduction of cross border digital payment system, early conclusion of BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement, sharing best practices in nursing and tourism and recognition of university degrees etc.
He also highlighted the importance of raising common voice from BIMSTEC countries in combatting the adverse impact of climate change in global climate change negotiations.
He underscored the need of maintaining peace and stability in the BIMSTEC region for sustainability of growth and development.
In this context, he called upon the BIMSTEC members for creating enabling environment that would lead to the repatriation of internally displaced Myanmar nationals currently sheltered in Bangladesh.
He drew the attention of the members in taking shared position against cross border terrorism, wiping out the menace of drug and human trafficking etc.
He shared views on mechanisms for energy security, food security, cyber security in the BIMSTEC region.
The Foreign Ministerrecalled with great pleasure that Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is one of the founding leaders who contributed to establishing BIMSTEC in 1996.
