Bangladesh attends IORA amid Delhi row

Bangladesh maintained its participation in a key regional maritime forum in New Delhi despite the controversy surrounding Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman, underscoring the importance Dhaka places on its strategic interests in the Indian Ocean and continued engagement with India amid several unresolved bilateral issues.

A three-member Bangladeshi delegation was scheduled to attend the 28th Committee of Senior Officials Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), held in New Delhi on 15–16 June.

The delegation was led by Dr Zahed Ur Rahman, Adviser on Policy and Strategy to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

However, Dr Zahed did not participate in the meeting after alleging that he faced “harassment” at Delhi airport.

Despite the incident, the remaining two members of the delegation continued with the programme and represented Bangladesh at the regional gathering.

The delegation included Commodore Sheikh Mahmudul Hassan, Head of the Maritime Affairs Unit and Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Abulais Shomrat, Assistant Secretary of the same unit.

Foreign ministry sources said the officials remained in New Delhi because Bangladesh’s interests within IORA were too significant to overlook.

“Bangladesh is a major stakeholder in IORA. We have substantial interests, particularly in the Blue Economy, and it was important that the country remained represented,” a foreign ministry source said.

The source added that participation was also important from the perspective of diplomatic protocol.

“Beyond our strategic interests, there is also the matter of diplomatic etiquette. Bangladesh could not afford to be absent from such an important regional platform,” the official said.

According to a government order issued on 13 June, Dr Zahed was designated to lead the delegation.

The order stated that expenses related to his participation, including airfare, accommodation, meals, transportation and allowances, would be covered by the Prime Minister’s Office. The costs for the other two delegates were to be borne by the organisers.

IORA has emerged as a significant regional organisation linking countries bordering the Indian Ocean, with a focus on maritime security, trade, fisheries, disaster management, sustainable development and the Blue Economy.

For Bangladesh, the forum is particularly important as the country seeks to expand economic activity in the Bay of Bengal and harness marine resources to support long-term growth.

The government’s FY2026–27 budget places renewed emphasis on the Blue Economy, identifying it as a potential driver of future development.

Planned initiatives include operating commercial vessels to harvest tuna and other pelagic fish in deep-sea areas, expanding seaweed cultivation and increasing fisheries export earnings to US$1 billion by 2030.

The Oceanographic Research Institute is also conducting studies aimed at unlocking the country’s marine resource potential.

To support these efforts, the government has proposed Tk100 crore for research and innovation and a further Tk100 crore for Blue Economy development, bringing total allocations to Tk200 crore in the coming fiscal year.

Officials said continued engagement through IORA would help Bangladesh strengthen cooperation, attract investment and exchange expertise in maritime resource management.

The meeting also comes at a sensitive juncture in Bangladesh-India relations. Diplomatic sources noted that several important bilateral issues remain unresolved and require sustained dialogue.

Among the most significant is the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, which is due to expire in December. Discussions on its renewal are expected to feature prominently in bilateral engagements in the months ahead.

Other outstanding issues include border management, the sharing of waters from several transboundary rivers, including the Teesta, and efforts to deepen trade and economic cooperation.

“These are issues that require continuous dialogue and confidence-building. Both countries have significant interests at stake,” a diplomatic source said.

Meanwhile, public attention has remained focused on the airport incident involving Dr Zahed, which has generated debate in both Bangladesh and India.

The episode has unfolded amid broader scrutiny of bilateral relations and heightened public interest in diplomatic engagement between the two neighbours.

Observers say the coming months will be important for Bangladesh-India ties as both sides seek to address unresolved issues while preserving cooperation in areas of mutual interest.