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Bangladesh wants the Bay of Bengal to remain a neutral and peaceful region free from any form of external military intervention, retired Major General A N M Muniruzzaman, president of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS), has said.
He made the remarks on Saturday at a session of the fifth Bay of Bengal Conversation in Dhaka, in response to a question about Bangladesh’s role in reducing tensions between China and India and maintaining regional balance.
Muniruzzaman said Bangladesh occupies a strategically important position in the Bay of Bengal, which is significant not only for South Asia but also for the wider Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific regions.
He said Bangladesh could play an important role in ensuring maritime stability in the Bay, which would be crucial for both India and China.
“We want to keep the Bay of Bengal a neutral and peaceful region free from any external military intervention,” he said.
He also highlighted Bangladesh’s potential role as a bridge between South and Southeast Asia. According to him, a land corridor connecting China’s Yunnan province with South Asia could boost regional trade and connectivity, benefiting both India and China.
Muniruzzaman also raised the issue of climate change and security, saying Bangladesh is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. He said the country’s efforts to address climate-related security risks, environmental balance and biodiversity conservation could have wider regional benefits.