New Delhi: Bangladesh called for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to “work hand-in-hand” with the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) during the meeting of BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs, hosted by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval in New Delhi Thursday.
SAARC has remained largely inactive for the past decade following the complete breakdown of ties between India and Pakistan.
“It would equally be worthy to draw on the complementarities and good work advanced through other regional cooperation frameworks in our shared geography, namely SAARC. Most of the countries in this room are witnesses to the norms, institutions and practical mechanisms developed within SAARC over the past four decades, which have led to considerable convergence of ideas and initiatives,” Brig. Gen. AKM Shamsul Islam (Retd.), Defence Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, said in his national statement at the meeting.
He added: “For instance, in tackling challenges such as disaster management, public health, food and energy security, and transnational crime. In our work, we can little afford to overlook the work already done. Bangladesh believes that both the regional cooperation processes, with their distinctive strengths, ought to move hand in hand.”
Islam added that Dhaka, as the current BIMSTEC chair, is “ready to work with all member-states” towards building a more resilient region. Dhaka has also been pushing for the revival of the SAARC, a regional organisation which includes India and Pakistan as its members, in recent months.
The revival of SAARC was mentioned during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s first press conference after assuming leadership of the country in February. Rahman has consistently claimed that SAARC, which was founded in 1985, was established based on the ideas of his father, Ziaur Rahman, the former President of Bangladesh.
However, SAARC has been non-functional for a decade due to the issues between India and Pakistan. India boycotted the last SAARC summit in 2016, which was scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan, following the Uri terrorist attack. Along with India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives pulled out from the summit.
SAARC consists of eight members: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka. In the last decade, India has focused its efforts on deepening cooperation between the seven members of the BIMSTEC.
India has consistently pushed for greater cooperation through BIMSTEC, which comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The organisation, founded nearly three decades ago, has faced challenges in institutionalising its mechanisms in the way the SAARC did during its three decades of active functioning.
“India’s position is very clear on connectivity. We want to promote regional connectivity and collaboration. As far as SAARC is concerned, we have made our position very clear. There is one particular country that is responsible for holding up progress in SAARC, and you know which country that is,” Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said during a regular press briefing on 26 September 2025.
Jaiswal has also said at various press briefings that the Indian “impetus” for BIMSTEC is a part of New Delhi’s focus on regional connectivity and cooperation.
However, it should be noted that BIMSTEC’s charter came into force only in 2024, almost 27 years after the organisation was first established. The permanent secretariat for BIMSTEC was established in Dhaka in 2014. Between 2004 and 2025 only five summits of the BIMSTEC leaders have been held.
The dates for the next summit are currently unclear as Bangladesh holds the chairship of the organisation.
The shift in Dhaka’s position on SAARC began after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power in August 2024. Former Chief Adviser of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus had also publicly raised the necessity for the revival of SAARC.
During Yunus’ interim government, Dhaka moved to stabilise and normalise ties with Pakistan. Bangladesh was formed in 1971 following its liberation from Pakistan, a history which has deeply impacted ties over the years. However, under Yunus, Bangladesh sought to expand its relationship with Pakistan, while ties with India fractured.
Since Rahman assumed power in February, both India and Bangladesh have sought to stabilise and revive the relationship. While there have been exchanges of high-level delegations, the two Prime Ministers are yet to meet bilaterally. In recent months, the relationship has seen further strain over the issue of illegal immigration.
Doval hosted the fifth BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs’ meeting, which was attended by representatives from all seven member states. Among the key outcomes, the member states adopted guidelines for the maritime component of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and endorsed the guiding principles for the conduct of maritime law enforcement agencies during interactions at sea.
(Edited by Harini TS)
A thought which troubles me. All of India’s neighbours want SAARC to be revived. What if, in India’s absence after being invited to the summit, they all proceed to hold it. China has observer status. They could accord it the respect and importance due to a full member.