BIMSTEC adopts Delhi Declaration to counter terrorism
BIMSTEC member nations have adopted the 'Delhi Declaration' to strengthen regional cooperation against terrorism, radicalization, and terror financing. The meeting, hosted by India, focused on implementing international counter-terror standards and enhancing security collaboration.
Why it matters
This declaration signals a unified regional effort to address cross-border security threats and align with UN-mandated counter-terrorism frameworks.
India hosted the first-ever meeting of the Home Ministers of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) countries on Tuesday (October 13, 2026), where the regional bloc adopted a declaration to counter radicalisation, violent extremism conducive to terrorism, prevent the misuse of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes, and tackle terrorist recruitment.
Bangladesh, the chair of BIMSTEC, was represented by Manzur Morshed Chowdhury, Senior Secretary in its Home Ministry, instead of Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, a key member in Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s Cabinet. During the BRICS summit hosted by India on September 12-13, there was no representation from Bangladesh either.
The “Delhi Declaration” signed by Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, also called for curbing terror financing through adherence to internationally agreed counter-terror financing and anti-money laundering standards, consistent with domestic and international laws.
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