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ASEAN (blue) and Bangladesh (red)Flag of Bangladesh
The accession of Bangladesh to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) refers to an ongoing attempt by the Bangladeshi government to gain membership status within ASEAN. Whilst formal expressions of interest emerged in the early 2020s, the origins of Bangladesh's aspirations date back to the 1970s. It's rejection led to the eventual establishment of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in 1985, which closely drew structural inspiration from ASEAN’s model.[1]
While the country has long maintained bilateral relations with ASEAN member states and participated in the ASEAN Regional Forum since 2006, it began actively pursuing closer institutional ties, initially seeking Sectoral Dialogue Partner (SDP) status, and eventually signaling intent for full membership. This aspiration gained renewed momentum following a change in government in 2024, when the caretaker administration under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus elevated ASEAN accession as a top foreign policy priority.[2] Bangladesh has since secured expressions of support from several ASEAN member states, including Malaysia,[3]Indonesia,[4]Laos,[5] and to an extent, Brunei (under SDP status).[6] Though ASEAN has not yet set a formal timeline or pathway for accession. As of 2025, Bangladesh continues to lobby for SDP status as a strategic entry point into the bloc, while positioning itself for eventual full membership in the future.[7]
Since the beginning of Bangladesh's overtures toward ASEAN accession, a complex array of obstacles has shaped the trajectory of its bid. Although Bangladesh has expressed sustained interest, its efforts have been met with both cautious encouragement and institutional inertia. One of the earliest and persistent challenges has been ASEAN’s geographic and historical self-definition. Bangladesh, as a South Asian country, lies outside the traditional scope of Southeast Asia, prompting doubts over whether its inclusion would stretch ASEAN’s regional identity beyond its original parameters.[10] This geographic scope has not been fully enforced. Indonesia itself is a transcontinental country that spans both Southeast Asia and Oceania.[11] Observers argue that regional definitions can drift and change overtime.[12]
One of the structural impediments to Bangladesh’s potential accession to ASEAN lies in the organization’s consensus-based decision-making model, which requires unanimous agreement among all member states for major initiatives, including enlargement. This mechanism allows individual member states to block or delay progress, particularly where national interests diverge. A notable complication is the presence of Myanmar, whose ongoing tensions with Bangladesh over the unresolved Rohingya refugee crisis present a significant diplomatic obstacle. Myanmar may oppose Bangladesh’s entry directly or adopt delaying tactics. More broadly, ASEAN’s preference for non-confrontational, humanitarian responses over political interventions has limited its willingness to address contentious bilateral issues, potentially stalling the accession process through institutional inertia.[12][13][14]
Domestically, Bangladesh faces the challenge of proving its readiness to contribute effectively to the ASEAN community. While the country has recorded robust economic growth and development in recent years, questions persist regarding the preparedness of its emerging industries to compete within ASEAN’s integrated market framework. Observers have expressed concerns that premature exposure to ASEAN’s free trade mechanisms could leave Bangladesh vulnerable to asymmetric competition, particularly from more developed economies such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore. This has prompted debate over whether Bangladesh's economic base is sufficiently diversified and resilient to reap the benefits of deeper regional integration.[13]
Facing rejection from ASEAN, Ziaur Rahman went on to establish SAARC
In the late 1970s, Bangladesh’s President Ziaur Rahman explored the possibility of joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a means to broaden the country’s alliances. Following his rise to power via a 1975 coupd'etat, Ziaur Rahman would sought ASEAN membership in an effort to legitimize his new administration on the international stage. Bangladesh formally applied to join ASEAN, but this request was turned down by the existing Southeast Asian members. ASEAN’s refusal stemmed on the grounds of maintaining organizational cohesion, particularly due to concerns over Bangladesh’s governance structure at the time, not long after the coup d'état. ASEAN also held wariness toward expanding westward.[1][28]
Having been rebuffed by ASEAN, Bangladesh turned its focus to building its own regional bloc. In May 1980, Ziaur Rahman formally proposed the creation of a South Asian cooperative forum, drawing inspiration from ASEAN’s success. He consulted leaders of India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and others on forming an “ASEAN-like” organization for South Asia.[29] This initiative led to the founding of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in 1985, with Bangladesh as a co-founder. Zia would be honoured by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation for his statesmanship and vision.[30][31] Throughout the 1980s, Bangladesh remained outside ASEAN and instead prioritized SAARC for regional collaboration. During this period there were no further Bangladeshi attempts to join ASEAN, as the country concentrated on the new South Asian forum and strengthening bilateral ties with Southeast Asian nations separately.[1][28]
While full membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) remained unattained, Bangladesh progressively deepened its engagement with ASEAN-affiliated frameworks during the 1990s and 2000s. A significant milestone was its role as a founding member of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in 1997 as a linkage between South and Southeast Asian countries, signalling its interest in closer integration with the ASEAN neighbourhood.[32][33]
During this period, Bangladesh's regional posture was shaped by frustrations over the limited progress of economic cooperation within the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the perceived dominance of India, which surrounds Bangladesh and maintains a persistent trade surplus with it.[34] In response, the Bangladeshi government initiated a “Look East” policy in 2002, aiming to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties with Southeast and East Asian countries. This strategic pivot reflected a desire to diversify partnerships and integrate more fully with the dynamic economies of the broader Asia-Pacific region.[35] At the 12th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 28 July 2005, a major step came in when Bangladesh was admitted to the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN’s security dialogue platform, as its 26th participating country,[36][37] allowing Bangladesh to regularly consult with ASEAN states on political and security issues, even if it was not an ASEAN member.[38]
The following year, Bangladesh acceded to ASEAN’s foundational Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) on 1 August 2007, signed at an ASEAN-ARF meeting in Manila.[39] Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury called this a “red-letter day in the history of Bangladesh’s foreign policy.”[16] Analysts later observed that by joining the ARF in 2006 and signing the TAC in 2007, Bangladesh had formally aligned itself with ASEAN’s norms.[37]
In 2011, Laos announced that it would support Bangladesh in obtaining ASEAN observer status, the first ASEAN member to do so. This assurance was made during a credentials ceremony at Bangabhaban, where newly appointed Lao Ambassador Thongphanh Syackhaphom presented his credentials to President Zillur Rahman.[5] Laos has historically supported Bangladesh’s aspiration to deepen its engagement with ASEAN and has maintained cooperative relations at various international forums, going as far to supporting Bangladesh's early inclusion in ASEM.[40]
ASEAN Dhaka Committee (ADC) presented humanitarian assistance during the 2024 October flood, distributed through Bangladesh’s Help Foundation
In early 2014 Bangladesh stepped up institutional ties with ASEAN. In May 2014 Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Md. Nazmul Quaunine, was accredited as the country’s first Ambassador to ASEAN. He presented credentials to ASEAN’s Secretary-General on 6 May 2014.[41] That month the Dhaka Tribune editorialized that Bangladesh should “speed up efforts for Bangladesh to join ASEAN,” noting the mutual economic benefits of membership.[42] As a prelude to become an ASEAN Dialogue Partner, the "Dhaka Committee" was created as a coordinated platform among the eight ASEAN diplomatic missions in Dhaka, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, to enhance ASEAN’s engagement and visibility in Bangladesh and serves primarily to organize the promotion of Southeast Asian Studies, cultural events like ASEAN Day celebrations, and frequently, humanitarian initiatives such as joint flood-relief efforts.[43][17]
On 5–6 March 2018 Bangladesh hosted Vietnam’s President Tran Dai Quang for a state visit. In the resulting Bangladesh–Vietnam Joint Statement, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina “expressed her government’s keen interests to intensify … relations with the ASEAN countries” and explicitly sought Vietnam’s support for Bangladesh to become an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner. This was the first time a Bangladeshi leader had publicly linked ASEAN accession ambitions to high-level bilateral talks with an ASEAN state.[44]
In October 2022, Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah made a state visit to Dhaka. The Bangladesh–Brunei joint statement from that visit explicitly “appreciated Bangladesh’s continued interest to strengthen its relations with ASEAN” and “assured its support for Bangladesh’s bid to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN.”[6]
Cook Islands, Bangladesh, and ASEAN leaders doing the "ASEAN Handshake" during the opening ceremony of the 2023 ASEAN Summit
In July 2023, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen led the Bangladeshi delegation to the 30th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Jakarta. In ARF speeches he pushed ASEAN members to take the country as a sectoral dialogue partner, urging ASEAN members to provide active support to Bangladesh’s candidacy for attaining Sectoral Dialogue Partner status by the next ASEAN Summit.[45] On the sidelines of that July 2023 meeting, Momen met ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn in Jakarta. The Secretary-General assured of extending full support to Bangladesh’s effort to become an ASEAN sectoral dialogue. Momen also held a bilateral with Indonesia’s foreign minister (Indonesia was ASEAN chair in 2023) and specifically requested Jakarta’s help in securing a consensus on Bangladesh’s SDP bid at the upcoming ASEAN Summit.[46] Towards the end of 2023, Bangladesh’s foreign minister made similar overtures. In November 2023 at a Foreign Service Academy event in Dhaka, Momen reiterated that Bangladesh was willing to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner (SDP) of ASEAN to deepen ties. He highlighted Bangladesh’s contributions to regional issues (e.g. the Rohingya refugee situation) and renewed Dhaka’s commitment to the ASEAN process.[47]
2024 saw major political changes in Bangladesh which accelerated ASEAN-related initiatives. After a domestic uprising in July–August 2024, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government was replaced by a caretaker administration headed by Prof. Muhammad Yunus. Starting August 2024, the new chief adviser (interim head) Dr. Yunus made ASEAN accession a high-profile goal. On 27–29 August 2024 he met Malaysia’s High Commissioner in Dhaka, Haznah Md Hashim, during a visit at the State Guest House Jamuna. He would explicitly sought Kuala Lumpur’s support for Bangladesh’s bid to join ASEAN.[48][49] Malaysia (which was to chair ASEAN in 2025) responded positively, the High Commissioner said she would convey Yunus’s request to the relevant authorities and expressed Kuala Lumpur’s willingness to work with the interim government.[48]
ASEAN is a wonderful group of countries that is moving forward, (taking) very confident steps, and the future looks very bright.
What kind of future do we see for ourselves — as a region, as a country?
Analysts interpret Bangladesh’s eastward diplomatic orientation as a strategic recalibration, potentially signaling a departure from what has been described as an “India-centric foreign policy” under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This shift has been viewed by some as a response to perceived Indian influence over Bangladesh’s domestic and foreign affairs. In this context, deeper engagement with Southeast Asia, particularly through aspirations to join ASEAN, is seen as a move to diversify regional partnerships and reduce reliance on India’s geopolitical orbit.[51]SAARC itself has remained innefective,[52] primarily due to persistent geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan, as well as the ongoing instability in Afghanistan. These challenges have contributed to the prolonged suspension of the organization's activities and hindered regional integration efforts.[53][54]
On 3 November 2024, during a meeting with Indonesia’s ambassador in Dhaka, Yunus appealed for Indonesia’s support in Bangladesh’s ASEAN bid, stressing its crucial importance for the country.[55][56] Previously, Yunus had also discussed the membership ambition with Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during the latter’s visit to Bangladesh, given that Malaysia would chair ASEAN in 2025. Indonesia’s envoy Heru Subolo responded positively, affirming that Indonesia was ready to support Bangladesh’s interim government and would closely monitor Bangladesh’s application to join ASEAN.[57] It was reported that Indonesia had supported Bangladesh's bid for membership.[4]
In 18 February 2025, at a Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) conference, Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin declared that attaining ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner status had become “one of the top foreign policy agendas” for Bangladesh. He said that since Aug 2024, the government was “pursuing the matter closely with the ASEAN members for their support”.[58]
On 4 April 2025, Prof. Yunus attended the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok, Thailand, and used the opportunity to court Thai support. At a breakfast with Thai political and business leaders, he declared that Bangladesh’s “ultimate goal is to join ASEAN as a full member,” after first becoming a sectoral dialogue partner. He sought backing from top figures in Thailand, including former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, and other ASEAN states like Indonesia and Malaysia for Bangladesh’s membership aspirations.[2]
On May 25, 2025, Yunus met former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on the sidelines of the Nikkei “Future of Asia” conference in Tokyo. Yunus asked Mahathir to leverage his influence to help Bangladesh help Bangladesh in its ASEAN membership bid, emphasizing that Dhaka “needed Malaysia’s support” as ASEAN chair to advance the bid.[59] Mahathir reportedly "pledged his support” and said he would “always remain a friend of Bangladesh” in this effort.[60] Though supportive of Bangladesh's observer status, Mahathir held some concerns on Bangladesh's process, notably on the problems of geography as he believes that Bangladesh was "geographically too far from what is currently defined as Southeast Asia."[10]
Segments within the Malaysian government had pledged support to Bangladesh's membership aspirations. On 3 June 2025, the Malaysian government, represented by Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Liew Chin Tong, publicly expressed support for Bangladesh’s bid to join ASEAN. He urged the regional bloc to seriously consider the proposal, citing Bangladesh’s expanding economic capacity and its increasing strategic relevance within the broader Indo-Pacific framework.[61][3] On 25 June, High commissioner of Bangladesh to Malaysia, M. Shameem Ahsan, believes that Bangladesh's desire to becoming part of ASEAN's sectoral dialogue partner would be a good first step to full membership.[62]
On July 8, Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain went to attend an ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) summit. On July 11, Hossain reaffirmed Bangladesh’s interest in enhancing cooperation with ASEAN and reiterated the country’s aspiration to attain the status of a sectoral dialogue partner within the regional organization.[7]
Bangladesh stands to gain significantly from ASEAN’s integrated economy. Membership would provide duty‑free access to all ASEAN markets and allow participation in ASEAN-wide Free Trade Areas such like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Analysts project that joining RCEP alone could raise Bangladesh’s exports by ~17% and GDP by ~0.26% alone. Such integration would help offset expected export losses (7–14%) when Bangladesh graduates from Least developed countries (LDC) status. ASEAN’s 680+ million consumers would then become reachable under common trade rules. Bangladeshi exporters (beyond its garment‐focused trade) would gain duty-free access to a diversified market. Analysts note that being part of ASEAN (and RCEP) could boost investor confidence. significantly increase Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows into Bangladesh.[13][63]
Bangladesh’s emerging industries (pharma, ICT, agriculture) could plug into ASEAN supply chains. Infrastructure projects like the Matarbari deep-sea port, the Asian Highway Network, and rail links would turn Bangladesh into a logistics hub linking South Asia to Southeast Asia.[63] For example, bilateral and trilateral transport corridors (via India or Myanmar) could streamline trade with Vietnam, Thailand and beyond.[64]
^"Oceania Bibliography"(PDF). Helictite: Journal of Australasian Cave Research. 25 (1). 1987. Archived(PDF) from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022. This paper covers the region from Irian Jaya (Western New Guinea, a province of New Guinea) in the west to Galápagos Islands (Equador) and Easter Island (Chile) in the east.
^"History". Embassy of the Philippines Dhaka Bangladesh. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
^"Diplomatic Relations". Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar in Brazil. Archived from the original on 12 July 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
^Malaysia Official Year Book. Vol. 12. Director General of Printing. 1974. p. 592.
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