Bangladesh is studying the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad of the US, India, Japan and Australia to join this Washington-led strategic initiative.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday said the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) submitted a report in this regard to them upon their request.
“We are working on it,” he said, while speaking at a seminar at the BIISS. The BIISS, which is a foreign ministry think-tank, was assigned to do the research on Quad.
“Recently, there is a debate over the Quad and Indo-Pacific Business Forum. To understand the issues, we requested the BIISS to look into the matter,” Dr Momen said.
“They have submitted a report on the Indo-Pacific Business Forum with the pros and cons if Bangladesh joins it…. we are working on it,” he added.
The BIISS organised the “Research Colloquium 2022” with its Chairman Ambassador Kazi Imtiaz Hossain in chair. Director General Major General Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin also spoke at the event. Earlier, in June, the US briefed Bangladesh on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) in a meeting.
Bangladesh welcomed additional information on the supply chain resilience and decarbonization pillars of the IPEF.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas recently said the US and 13 partner countries launched negotiations for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, which he described as a “novel economic arrangement” that reflects their collective desire to address 21st century challenges that go beyond trade and investment.
The membership of IPEF reflects the economic diversity of the region as well as the interconnectivity among partner countries that drives economic growth, job creation, and innovation, he said.
IPEF is intended to be open and inclusive to others who wish to join in the future if they share the goals of IPEF and work to achieve those goals.
“We will continue to work on these issues and grow our economic partnership bilaterally with all nations, including Bangladesh,” the US ambassador had said.
Speaking on the BIISS’s activities, the foreign minister said they expect more innovative research activities along with the traditional ones from them.
“With impending global climatic, political and economic crises, its role will be greater than ever in making our decision”.
“We, the ministry of foreign affairs, stand ready to extend cooperation,” he said.