Bangladesh is intensifying efforts to secure sectoral dialogue partner status with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus underscoring the country’s economic and strategic advantages.

Speaking to Malaysia’s Bernama news agency during his official visit to Kuala Lumpur from 11-13 August, Prof Yunus pointed to Bangladesh’s population of over 170 million as a large consumer market and a source of labour for regional industries. He also cited opportunities for joint ventures, including deep-sea fishing with Myanmar.

“There are many unexplored areas of investment… With Myanmar joining in, it becomes another opportunity to work together,” he said.

Bangladesh has been seeking sectoral dialogue partner status with ASEAN, a pursuit that has gained momentum since Prof Yunus assumed leadership of the interim government in August last year. He discussed the issue with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the current ASEAN Chair, during his visit.

Prof Yunus acknowledged that Bangladesh’s bid may face resistance from some member states, but insisted the country would persist. “We will not give up. We have very good reasons to explain to them that we are neighbours,” he said.

Bangladesh has been a party to ASEAN’s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation since 2007 and is part of the ASEAN Regional Forum. Two-way trade between ASEAN and Bangladesh reached US$6.16bn in 2023-24.

ASEAN, established in 1967, comprises 10 member states, including Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Vietnam.