<div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><b>Secretary General of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Indra Mani Pandey on Monday said a date has been proposed for the next Summit in Bangkok, Thailand later this year, awaiting approval from the member states.&nbsp;</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"The date for the 6th BIMSTEC Summit will formally be announced soon. It will have some significant outcomes. It will set a direction for the future of the BIMSTEC," he told members of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) at its Secretariat.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The BIMSTEC Secretary General hoped the upcoming Summit would add new vigour to regional cooperation within BIMSTEC.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"I believe BIMSTEC has a bright future. All the members are truly committed to make sure BIMSTEC becomes a success story," he said while making a presentation on BIMSTEC activities.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Summit will adopt a Bangkok Vision 2030 which would be an overarching kind of document and give direction to the organisation, he said, adding that it would be one of the significant outcomes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Responding to a question on maritime cooperation, the Secretary General said they will share details once the member States sign the document.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"It (likely MoU) will deal with every aspect of maritime connectivity," he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The BIMSTEC Secretary General said bilateral and regional cooperation are being reinforced.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said the member states want to see BIMSTEC successful and being able to deliver.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Progress has been reported in the preparations for the upcoming BIMSTEC meeting, which will involve member countries Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, the designated host.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thailand assumed the Chairmanship of BIMSTEC on March 30, 2022, underscoring its commitment to transforming this cooperation into a resilient organization capable of responding effectively to the evolving global landscape.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thailand prioritizes rapid and comprehensive adaptation, sustainable development, and enhancing the collective capabilities of all seven member nations.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The BIMSTEC Secretary General underscored the significance of the entry into force of the BIMSTEC Charter, hoping that it would usher in a new era of cooperation in the region. "That was a historic occasion."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">DCAB President Nurul Islam Hasib was also present. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>