Diplomatic Desk:
A grand reception was organized at the Renaissance Dhaka Gulshan Hotel in the capital on the occasion of the 59th founding anniversary of ASEAN. The ASEAN Dhaka Committee (ADC), comprising ambassadors and high commissioners of ASEAN member states stationed in Bangladesh, organized the event on Monday (10 August, 2026) night.
ASEAN Day is celebrated every year on August 8. This day is observed to commemorate the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on August 8, 1967. For nearly six decades, ASEAN has been playing an important role in ensuring regional peace, stability, economic growth and shared prosperity, as well as strengthening partnerships with the international community.
The main theme of this year’s ASEAN Day is the theme of the Philippines’ 2026 chairmanship—“Navigating Our Future, Together”. Under this theme, emphasis has been placed on further stabilizing regional communication and connectivity, ensuring energy security and increasing the resilience of the food supply system.
Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid was present as the chief guest at the event. At that time, officials from various government departments including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, diplomats from various countries posted in Dhaka, representatives of international organizations, business leaders, media representatives, representatives of the private and civil society, and other dignitaries were present.
At the beginning of the event, the Chair of the ASEAN Dhaka Committee and Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Mohammad Shuhada Othman delivered a welcome speech. Then, the country’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Nina Padilla Keinglet spoke on behalf of the Philippines, which holds the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026. A video was shown on the various activities and engagements of the ASEAN Dhaka Committee in 2026. In addition, a video on the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairmanship was also shown.
Speaking as the chief guest, Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said that Bangladesh has historical, cultural and economic relations with ASEAN countries as neighbors and close partners. This bond, founded on history, culture and mutual trust, has been further deepened through land and sea connectivity, strong people-to-people engagement and strong commercial relations.
He said that by utilizing these connections, there is an opportunity to take the relations between Bangladesh and ASEAN countries to a higher level for mutual benefit and common interests. The Bangladesh government is committed to making this relationship stronger and multidimensional.
The minister said that the current government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has given top priority to Bangladesh’s relations with ASEAN and its 11 member states. In continuation of this, the Prime Minister visited Malaysia as her first state visit. He expressed hope that her visit would play a positive role in further advancing relations with Bangladesh and ASEAN countries.
Highlighting the initiative to make ASEAN’s relations with Bangladesh more institutional and sustainable, the minister said that Bangladesh has already applied to become ASEAN’s Sectoral Dialogue Partner (SDP). Bangladesh has taken various initiatives to increase sectoral cooperation with ASEAN and several projects are being implemented and in process.
Highlighting the initiatives of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, he said that the ‘Bangladesh-ASEAN Cooperation Project on Fisheries and Aquaculture’ is being implemented under his ministry with a budget of about one million US dollars. In addition, several other cooperation projects in various sectors including tourism, information and communication technology (ICT), and culture are in process.
The minister sought the cooperation of the heads of missions of ASEAN member states present at the event so that Bangladesh can achieve the status of ASEAN’s Sectoral Dialogue Partner. He said that ASEAN is one of the most successful regional cooperation organizations in the world. If Bangladesh can formally associate more closely with the ASEAN family, the relations between the two sides will be more meaningful, sustainable and multidimensional.
The event was attended by Ambassadors and High Commissioners of ASEAN countries including Chair of ASEAN Dhaka Committee and Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Mohammad Shuhada Othman, Ambassador of the Philippines to Bangladesh Nina Padilla Keinglet, and officials from various ministries of the Bangladesh government, diplomats, businessmen, representatives of international organizations, civil society, and dignitaries.
The event also highlighted Bangladesh’s rich agriculture, livestock, food culture and heritage. Along with other dishes, Bangladesh’s traditional and unique GI product ‘Black Bengal Goat’ and the popular local dish black cumin rice biryani were served to the guests. Through these dishes and products, the diversity of Bangladesh’s agriculture, livestock and food traditions was showcased to the diplomats and invited guests of ASEAN countries.
Appreciating the role that ASEAN has been playing in peace, stability, economic development and mutual prosperity in the experience of nearly six decades of regional cooperation, the speakers emphasized the need to further enhance cooperation between Bangladesh and ASEAN countries in various fields including trade, investment, tourism, agriculture, fisheries, ICT, culture and people-to-people engagement in the future.
This event on the occasion of the 59th founding anniversary of ASEAN has not only deepened the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and ASEAN countries, but also sent a message of new possibilities for future cooperation.
