Dhaka: Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday said Bangladesh wants partnership, cooperation and collaboration from all countries to expedite its journey on development highway achieving core development goals, reports the UNB.

‘We need partnership, collaboration and cooperation to build Sonar Bangla. We need connectivity,’ he told a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club in the evening saying Bangladesh cannot accomplish some tasks alone.

Bangladesh Study Trust (BST) arranged the discussion titled ‘Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN): Its Prospect and Reality’ with BST General Secretary Prof Dr Mamun Al Mahtab in the chair.

Speaking as the chief guest, the Foreign Minister laid emphasis on arranging a discussion with relevant ministries to determine Bangladesh’s role in making BBIN initiative more effective and stronger.

He said Bangladesh needs massive investment to achieve its development goals and turn Bangladesh into a developed nation by 2041 which, he thinks, is difficult but achievable.

The Foreign Minister said the government is giving much importance on economic diplomacy and stronger connectivity for ensuring faster development in the country by boosting trade.

He also highlighted energy cooperation among BBIN members ensuring a win-win situation.

Terming Bangladesh’s relations with India and other countries very warm, Minister Momen laid emphasis on cooperation for better water resourcesmanagement.

He also touched upon cooperation in the areas of trade, education, technology and tourism.

Former Ambassador M Abdul Hannan presented a keynote paper at the discussion meeting.

Former Ambassador AKM Atiqur Rahman, JnU Prof Dr Baladas Ghoshal and former BGMEA President Atiqul Islam, among others, spoke on the occasion.

They expressed frustration over the ineffectiveness of Saarc and Pakistan’s negative role, and suggested going ahead with the BBIN initiative.