Bangladesh aims to advance toward building a “Three Zero” world—zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions—said Interim Government Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus during his speech at the BIMSTEC Summit held in Bangkok on Friday, April 4.

Dr. Yunus emphasized that while some may view Bangladesh’s large population as a challenge, the country sees it as a potential strength. He expressed Bangladesh’s commitment to hosting the BIMSTEC Secretariat and leveraging regional strengths for collective progress.

Calling for enhanced trade and youth mobility, he highlighted that intra-regional trade within BIMSTEC remains low at only 5.9%. Dr. Yunus urged the implementation of the BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement signed in 2004, stressing the need for concrete progress in economic cooperation.

He also underlined the urgency of implementing the master plan on regional transport connectivity adopted at the fifth BIMSTEC Summit, pledging Bangladesh’s full support in this regard. Referring to a newly signed agreement on maritime cooperation, he noted its importance in connecting landlocked nations and India’s northeastern region more effectively.

Advocating for a restructured financial framework that ensures not just economic growth but also dignity and security, Dr. Yunus proposed that innovative social business could play a key role in this transformation.

On the Rohingya crisis, he warned of regional instability if a sustainable solution isn’t found and suggested that BIMSTEC could take a stronger role in resolving the issue, including the possibility of establishing a humanitarian corridor in Myanmar’s Rakhine State to prevent hunger and displacement.

As Bangladesh assumes the BIMSTEC chairmanship, Dr. Yunus said he looks forward to welcoming member states to Dhaka over the next two years.