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Part of the DU Admission (Bangladesh) study roadmap. Gk topic gk-007 of Gk.

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SAARC, BIMSTEC, and International Organizations

Bangladesh’s foreign policy and international standing are shaped significantly by its memberships in regional and global organizations. For the DU Admission examination, understanding SAARC, BIMSTEC, the United Nations, the Commonwealth, the OIC, and Bangladesh’s role in these bodies is essential. Questions on Bangladesh’s regional position, its multilateral diplomacy, and its contributions to international peace and development are frequently asked.

🟢 Lite — Quick Review (1h–1d)

Rapid summary for last-minute revision before your exam.

Key Organizations and Bangladesh’s Role:

OrganizationAbbreviationBangladesh Status
South Asian Association for Regional CooperationSAARCFounding member (1985); Secretariat: Kathmandu
Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic CooperationBIMSTECFounding member (1997); Bangladesh hosted 2016 summit
United NationsUNMember since 17 September 1974
Commonwealth of Nations—Member since 1972
Organisation of Islamic CooperationOICMember since 1974
World Trade OrganizationWTOMember since 1 January 1995

Key Facts to Remember:

  • SAARC was founded in Dhaka on 8 December 1985 — a classic exam question
  • Bangladesh was the FIRST country to recognize Bangladesh (India recognized Bangladesh on 6 December 1971)
  • Bangladesh is one of the top 3 contributors to UN peacekeeping missions globally
  • BIMSTEC excludes Pakistan — seen as a more functional alternative to SAARC

⚡ Exam Tip: SAARC’s founding in Dhaka (8 December 1985) and Bangladesh hosting the BIMSTEC summit (2016) are among the most frequently tested facts. Also remember Bangladesh was the FIRST country to recognize Bangladesh — but that’s foreign policy, not an organization. The question asks which country recognized Bangladesh first — the answer is India.

🟡 Standard — Regular Study (2d–2mo)

Standard content for students with a few days to months.

1. SAARC — South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

Foundation and Purpose

SAARC was established on 8 December 1985 in Dhaka — one of the most famous facts associated with Bangladesh’s international role. The founding document (the SAARC Charter) was signed by seven South Asian states:

Founder Members (1985):

  • Bangladesh
  • India
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
  • Maldives
  • Bhutan
  • Nepal

Afghanistan joined later, in 2007.

Purpose of SAARC:

  • Promote economic and regional cooperation among South Asian nations
  • Accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development
  • Promote collective self-reliance
  • Collaborate in agriculture, rural development, health, and education
  • Strengthen cooperation against terrorism

SAARC Charter: The SAARC Charter was signed on 8 December 1985 in Dhaka. The charter established the principle of unanimity — all decisions require the consent of all member states. This principle has often made SAARC ineffective, as disputes between India and Pakistan have paralyzed decision-making.

SAARC Summits

SummitYearHost City
1st1985Dhaka
2nd1986India
3rd1987Nepal
4th1988Pakistan
5th1990Maldives
6th1991Sri Lanka
7th1993Bangladesh (Dhaka)
8th1995India
9th1997Maldives
10th1998Sri Lanka
11th2002Nepal
12th2004Pakistan
13th2007Bangladesh (Dhaka)
14th2014Nepal (Kathmandu)

Note: Afghanistan attended from 2007 onwards.

14th Summit (Kathmandu, 2014): The last SAARC summit. The organization has been largely paralyzed since the 2016 Uri attack (India blamed Pakistan-based militants), and the 2016 SAARC summit in Islamabad was postponed indefinitely.

SAARC Bodies

  • SAARC Secretariat: Located in Kathmandu, Nepal — established in 1987
  • SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • SAARC Development Fund
  • SAARC Agricultural Centre (SAC)
  • SAARC Disaster Management Centre

SAARC and Bangladesh

Bangladesh has been an active and constructive member of SAARC, often playing the role of a bridge between India and Pakistan. Bangladesh has hosted three SAARC summits (1985, 1993, 2007).

Bangladesh’s Priorities in SAARC:

  • Trade and economic integration
  • Connectivity (roads, railways, waterways)
  • Climate change cooperation
  • Tourism
  • Health cooperation

2. BIMSTEC — Bay of Bengal Initiative

BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) is a sub-regional organization that Bangladesh has increasingly looked to as a more functional alternative to SAARC.

Formation

BIMSTEC was established on 6 June 1997 in Bangkok, Thailand. Originally called BIST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand — Economic Cooperation), it was renamed BIMSTEC when Myanmar joined in 1998 and Nepal and Bhutan joined in early 2004.

Current Members:

  • Bangladesh
  • India
  • Myanmar
  • Sri Lanka
  • Thailand
  • Nepal
  • Bhutan

Significance: BIMSTEC links the economies of the Bay of Bengal region — combining South Asia (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka) with Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Thailand). It is seen as a more practical forum because it excludes Pakistan, whose tensions with India have paralyzed SAARC.

Bangladesh and BIMSTEC

Bangladesh hosted the BIMSTEC Summit in 2016: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the summit in Dhaka. This was a major diplomatic event, bringing together leaders from all seven member states. The summit focused on:

  • Counter-terrorism and security cooperation
  • Trade and investment
  • Connectivity
  • Climate change
  • Blue economy (maritime cooperation)

Bangladesh’s Priorities in BIMSTEC:

  • Maritime security and the blue economy
  • Trade facilitation
  • Transport and communication links
  • Energy cooperation

Key BIMSTEC Agreements:

  • BIMSTEC Free Trade Area Framework Agreement (2004)
  • BIMSTEC Master Plan for Connectivity (2014)
  • BIMSTEC Renewable Energy Hub

3. The United Nations and Bangladesh

Bangladesh Joins the UN

Bangladesh was admitted to the United Nations on 17 September 1974 — the same year it joined the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Sheikh Mujibur Rahman addressed the UN General Assembly in September 1974, shortly after independence.

UN Security Council

Bangladesh has served as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council twice:

  • 1985–86: First term as a newly independent nation
  • 2000–01: Second term; Bangladesh was also Chair of the SAARC during this period

Bangladesh has consistently advocated for the expansion of the Security Council to include more developing country representation, arguing that the current P5 (US, UK, France, Russia, China) structure is undemocratic.

UN Peacekeeping Operations

Bangladesh is one of the largest and most consistent contributors of uniformed personnel to UN peacekeeping missions:

  • Consistently ranked among the top 3 contributors globally (alongside India and Pakistan)
  • Bangladeshi peacekeepers have served in: Somalia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Lebanon, Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, and many other countries
  • They have been involved in protecting civilians, disarming combatants, supporting elections, and maintaining peace
  • Bangladesh has contributed police, military observers, and formed entire infantry battalions for UN missions
  • This has earned Bangladesh significant international respect and diplomatic goodwill

Human Rights Council

Bangladesh participates in the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process and has submitted reports on its own human rights record.

Climate and Development

Bangladesh is an active member of:

  • Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF): Founding member; Bangladesh hosted two CVF ministerial meetings
  • UNFCCC (Paris Agreement): Bangladesh submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) early — committed to 5% unconditional and 15% conditional emissions reduction by 2030
  • Bangladesh has established the world’s first national Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF) using its own budget

4. Commonwealth of Nations

Bangladesh joined the Commonwealth in 1972, shortly after gaining independence — making it one of the newer Commonwealth members.

Key Facts:

  • The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent countries, most formerly part of the British Empire
  • The head of the Commonwealth is the British monarch (currently King Charles III)
  • Bangladesh’s representation in Commonwealth institutions is through its nominated Governor-General (the position is currently vacant; the President serves this function)
  • Commonwealth Games: Bangladesh has participated since 1998 (Kuala Lumpur). Notable participation: 2010 Delhi (Gold in cricket demonstration) and 2018 Gold Coast (first medals)
  • Commonwealth Scholarships: Bangladesh benefits from the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) — hundreds of Bangladeshi students receive scholarships for postgraduate study in the UK each year

5. Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

Bangladesh joined the OIC in 1974, the same year it joined the UN.

Key Facts:

  • The OIC is the second-largest intergovernmental organization after the UN, with 57 member states (plus Palestine as an observer)
  • Bangladesh has actively participated in OIC foreign minister conferences
  • Bangladesh has used the OIC platform to raise issues affecting Muslim-majority nations — particularly the Rohingya crisis (Myanmar is an OIC member)
  • The OIC has observer status at the UN and represents the collective voice of the Muslim world on issues of peace, security, development, and human rights

6. World Trade Organization (WTO)

Bangladesh became a member of the WTO on 1 January 1995.

Trade Status:

  • Bangladesh is classified as a Least Developed Country (LDC) by the WTO
  • As an LDC, Bangladesh benefits from the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) — preferential tariff access to developed country markets
  • The EU’s “Everything But Arms” (EBA) scheme allows Bangladesh duty-free access for almost all products to the EU market
  • US GSP: Bangladesh also benefits from US GSP for certain products

The LDC Graduation Challenge: Bangladesh is preparing for its eventual graduation from LDC status, which will mean losing these trade preferences. Bangladesh was scheduled for review in the early 2020s. Graduation would require Bangladesh to negotiate new trade terms with major markets — a major economic policy challenge.

7. Bangladesh’s Role in the Climate Vulnerable Forum

Bangladesh is a founding member and active leader in the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), a group of countries disproportionately affected by climate change.

Bangladesh’s Leadership:

  • Bangladesh hosted two CVF ministerial meetings
  • Bangladesh successfully advocated for Loss and Damage financing at COP27 (2022) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt — a landmark achievement
  • Bangladesh’s advocacy framed climate change as a security issue, not just an environmental one
  • Bangladesh has pioneered community-based climate adaptation approaches that are studied globally

8. Other Organizations Bangladesh Participates In

Bay of Bengal Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC): See Section 2.

SAARC Development Fund (SDF): Bangladesh is a founding member; the SDF is the financial arm of SAARC.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank: Bangladesh is a member of both and has received significant development loans for infrastructure, education, and health.

World Health Organization (WHO): Bangladesh has played a notable role, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bangladesh participated in the WHO’s COVAX programme.

International Criminal Court (ICC): Bangladesh referred the Rohingya crisis to the ICC, which authorized an investigation into Myanmar’s actions against the Rohingya (2020).

Exam Watch: Key exam facts: SAARC founded in Dhaka (8 December 1985); BIMSTEC founded in Bangkok (6 June 1997); Bangladesh joined the UN on 17 September 1974; Bangladesh joined WTO on 1 January 1995; Bangladesh joined Commonwealth in 1972; Bangladesh is a top-3 contributor to UN peacekeeping missions; Bangladesh was a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 1985-86 and 2000-01. The 14th SAARC summit was in Kathmandu in 2014. Bangladesh hosted the BIMSTEC summit in 2016 under Sheikh Hasina’s chairmanship.

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