<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Bangladesh's partnership with countries in the Indian Ocean will become stronger through hosting the Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) in Dhaka on May 12-13, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said on Wednesday.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mauritius President Prithvirajsing Roopun, minister and state minister-level delegation from 25 countries including Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will attend the conference.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Briefing reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Momen also said around 150 foreign guests will participate in the conference including representatives from D8, SAARC and BIMSTEC.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The participating ministers will also visit Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 to pay respect to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam said Bangladesh maintains good relations with Mauritius and the relations will further strengthen through the visit of the country's president.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Responding to a question, Dr momen said Myanmar was not invited to the conference.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the conference at a Dhaka hotel on May 12. The Prime Minister will also host a dinner in honour of the guests.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 6th edition of the conference is being organised by India Foundation in association with Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Bangladesh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With the theme of “Peace, Prosperity and Partnership for a Resilient Future”, the conference would bring together a luminary gathering of key stakeholders to chart the roadmap for strengthening the Indian Ocean Region.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) was started in 2016 and in the last six years it has emerged as the "flagship consultative forum" for countries in the region over regional affairs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The conference endeavours to bring critical states and principal maritime partners of the region together on a common platform to deliberate upon the prospects of regional cooperation for Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first edition of the conference was held in Singapore in 2016.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was attended by over 300 delegates from 22 countries including ministers, political leaders, diplomats, strategic thinkers, academics, and media. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>