Keep Bay of Bengal free from military intervention: Muniruzzaman

Bangladesh wants to keep the Bay of Bengal a neutral and peaceful region free from external military intervention, said retired Major General ANM Muniruzzaman, president of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies.

He made the remarks at a session of the fifth Bay of Bengal Conversation in the capital on Saturday.

Asked about Bangladesh’s role in reducing tensions between China and India, Muniruzzaman said Bangladesh has become an important player in regional and global geopolitics, with both countries having much to offer.

He said Bangladesh is a key gateway to the Bay of Bengal, which is strategically important for the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific. “We want to keep the Bay of Bengal a neutral and peaceful region free from any external military intervention,” he said.

He also said Bangladesh could serve as a bridge between South and Southeast Asia, while a land corridor connecting China’s Yunnan province with South Asia could boost regional trade and connectivity.

On climate change, Muniruzzaman said Bangladesh is among the countries most vulnerable to its impacts and is playing a leading role in addressing related security risks.

-AJM