Politicians, academics and officials at a geopolitical conference in Dhaka on Sunday called for a free and open Indo-Pacific without dominance of any individual country while former Mali prime minister Moussa Mara pointed out how unequal the world system was.
They emphasised the need for people-to-people relations to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
In his special address, Moussa said that inequality between the countries created anger and the situation could last longer since there were global trends to elect leaders mostly against migration and cooperation and also for inequalities in a fractured world.
He also described inequalities among African countries, saying that although they were oil-producing nations, they were facing oil shortage.
He underlined the need for ensuring governance, transparency and accountability.
鈥楪overnance remains the聽 key for all countries, Global South in particular,鈥� Moussa said while underlining the need for strengthening the United Nations system and reforming the international financial system so that all could be equally benefited.
About Bangladesh鈥檚 transition to democracy, he said that it was their hope that Bangladesh would succeed in returning to 鈥榬eal democracy, freedom of speech, human rights and holding a free and fair election and become a model for others.
Speaking at plenary session on 鈥楾urbulent Waters: Navigating Maritime Security in a Divided Indo-Pacific鈥�, acting High Commissioner of Australia to Bangladesh Nardia Simpson said that the challenge today was聽 that these issues were compounded by the fact that they were situated against the backdrop of broader geo-strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region.
The real challenge, according to the diplomat, was as to how, in this context, countries could contribute to the strategic balance in the Indo Pacific region and build coalitions to foster assurance against these challenges both in terms of the technical aspects of the challenges themselves, but also finding the political will to work together in these challenging times.
鈥極ur interests remain clear. A region that is peaceful and predictable, that is governed by accepted rules and norms, where all of us can cooperate, trade and thrive, where a larger country does not determine the fate of a smaller country, where each country can pursue its own aspirations, where no country dominates, and no country is dominated,鈥� the Australian envoy said.
She said that this vision for the region was grounded in sovereignty. 鈥楽overeignty, at a fundamental level, is about being able to make your own decisions, and shape your own future,鈥� Nardia Simpson added.
Bangladesh Institute of Maritime Research and Development director general Syed Misbah Uddin Ahmad said that Bangladesh should revisit its Indo-Pacific Outlook since it was framed 鈥榟urriedly鈥� in 2023.
The document envisions 鈥榓 free, open, peaceful, secure and inclusive Indo-Pacific for the shared prosperity for all鈥�.
David Brewster, senior research fellow of National Security College in Australia, Dominique Rakotozafy, former minister of National Defense, Madagascar and Sanjay Kumar Bhardwaj, professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University in India, also addressed the session moderated by Leonardo Paz Neves, researcher at International Intelligence Unit, Getulio Vargas Foundation in Brazil.
The panel discussion explored pressing security issues, such as tensions in the South China Sea and illegal fishing in the Bay of Bengal.
The Indo-Pacific maritime corridors are vital for global trade but increasingly fraught with security challenges, from territorial disputes to piracy and environmental threats, according to the panelists.
They touched upon collaborative approaches, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations鈥� maritime security initiatives and naval cooperation of the Quad (a grouping of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States), to promote stability in these contested waters and safeguard economic lifelines in a fractured world.
Bangladesh鈥檚 interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Saturday inaugurated the three-day Bay of Bengal Conversation at a city hotel with Centre for Governance Studies executive director Zillur Rahman in chair.
Around 200 speakers, 300 delegates and 800 participants from 80 nations, representing diverse voices across various sectors and geographies have joined the third edition of the annual geopolitical talks with the theme 鈥楢 Fractured World鈥� concluding today.