Bangladesh highly values ASEAN community and constructive role in global arena

It is indeed my great pleasure to be a part of this joyous occasion celebrating the 56th ASEAN DAY. Today, we come together to celebrate the spirit of ASEAN and the shared vision of regional cooperation that unites us all.

On behalf of the government and people of Bangladesh, I extend my warmest greetings and felicitations to all ASEAN member states, their peoples, and those who are present here. I thank the ASEAN Dhaka Committee for inviting me to this event.

August is a month of mourning and sadness for Bangladesh. It is stained eternally with the martyred blood of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who along with 18 of his close kinsmen were brutally assassinated by some derailed miscreants.

I take this opportunity to pay my deep homage and regards to the heavenly souls of Bangabandhu and his beloved family members and seek further divine blessings upon them and two surviving daughters.

ASEAN represents a region of great diversity, rich culture, and profound historical significance. It has been a beacon of regional cooperation, fostering peace, stability, and economic progress for more than five decades. Bangladesh highly values the ASEAN community and the constructive role it plays in the global arena.

As we gather here, we are reminded of the importance of unity and solidarity in the face of global challenges. The past years have shown us the importance of international collaboration to address issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and economic recovery. In this context, Bangladesh reaffirms its commitment to work hand in hand with ASEAN member states to achieve our shared goals.

The foundation of ASEAN's success lies in its adherence to the principles of mutual respect, non-interference, and consensus-building. These values resonate with Bangladesh, as they align with our own principles of peaceful coexistence and respectful engagement with the international community.

Today, I wish to emphasize the immense potential for cooperation between Bangladesh and ASEAN. We recognize the importance of strengthening ties in trade, investment, technology, and human capital development.

The collective market of ASEAN holds significant promise for Bangladesh's economic growth, and we are eager to explore opportunities for increased collaboration in sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, information technology, agriculture, blue economy and renewable energy.

Another area of mutual interest is the promotion of peace and stability in the region. We commend ASEAN's commitment to resolving disputes through peaceful means and inclusive dialogue. Bangladesh firmly believes that peaceful resolution of conflicts is the key to fostering greater understanding and cooperation between nations.

Our peace-centric foreign policy, centered on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu’s dictum ‘Friendship to all, malice toward none’ inspires us to promote the principle of non-alignment since our independence. This is been aptly reflected in Bangladesh’s recently announced “Indo-Pacific Outlook’.

Bangladesh is willing to become a Sectorial Dialogue Partner (SDP) of ASEAN to deepen its relations with the ASEAN Member States and their people. With about 170 million people, a more than 465 billion USD economy, and being recognized as one of the most vibrant and resilient Development Role Model of the world over a decade, the presence of Bangladesh in the ASEAN is expected to forge synergistic partnerships towards mutual benefits.

We note with appreciation that ASEAN is home to a total of 661 million people with gross domestic product (GDP) of US$ 3.08 trillion and trade exceeding US$ 2.7 trillion.

I resonated this vast potentials and sentiments that lie between ASEAN and Bangladesh during my interactions with the ASEAN leaders and ASEAN Secretary-General drawing their appreciation while attending the recently held 30th ASEAN Regional Forum in Jakarta.

As we celebrate ASEAN Day, let us renew our determination and redouble our collective efforts to build bridges of understanding and cooperation, fostering an environment where peace and progress can thrive. Together, we can create a brighter and more prosperous future for our people and the generations to come.