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Bangladesh Intensifies Bid for ASEAN Dialogue Partner Status
Since the interim government took office in August 2024, Bangladesh has significantly strengthened its efforts to attain Sectoral Dialogue Partner (SDP) status with ASEAN, a key objective in its foreign policy.
Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin highlighted this priority during a discussion on “ASEAN-Bangladesh Relationship: A Way Forward” held on Monday at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS). The event, organized by BIISS in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, gathered academics, experts, researchers, former Bangladeshi ambassadors to ASEAN countries, ASEAN diplomats based in Dhaka, and representatives from both the public and private sectors. The goal was to foster a comprehensive dialogue among stakeholders to accelerate Bangladesh’s pursuit of SDP status.
The roundtable discussion was chaired by Major General Iftekhar Anis, Director General of BIISS. Panelists included Dr. Oh Ei Sun, Principal Adviser at the Pacific Research Center of Malaysia and Senior Fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, Prof. ASM Ali Ashraf from the University of Dhaka, Prof. Shahab Enam Khan of Jahangirnagar University, and M Ashique Rahman, Senior Research Fellow at BIISS. The panelists deliberated on the essential components of Bangladesh’s roadmap to attain SDP status and identified the challenges that lie ahead.
Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin emphasized that securing SDP status is one of the government’s top foreign policy goals. He expressed optimism that the growing multi-sectoral engagement between Bangladesh and ASEAN would ultimately turn this aspiration into a reality. He also noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively engaging with ASEAN members to garner their support for Bangladesh’s bid and is open to constructive feedback from experts and stakeholders.
The roundtable culminated in a set of strategic recommendations for Bangladesh to enhance its engagement with ASEAN through various initiatives across multiple tracks. This event forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to deepen its partnership with ASEAN, with a focus on achieving broader regional cooperation and strengthening bilateral ties.