India Hosts First BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting

India is hosting the first BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi on 13 October 2026. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is chairing the meeting, attended by delegations from all seven BIMSTEC member states. Its agenda covers regional cooperation against terrorism, transnational organized crime, narcotics radicalization, trafficking, illicit financial flows and cyber threats.

Meeting and participants

The seven participating member states are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Bangladesh’s Home Minister, Salahuddin Ahmed, is not attending; a delegation led by Home Affairs Senior Secretary Manzur Morshed Chowdhury is representing Bangladesh. The meeting’s stated aim is to strengthen coordination among member states on shared security challenges. On 12 October 2026, Amit Shah said the meeting aimed to advance cooperation for regional security.

BIMSTEC: membership and formation

BIMSTEC is the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, a regional organisation promoting cooperation among countries around the Bay of Bengal. It was established on 6 June 1997. Its initial members were Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand, under the name BIST-EC. Myanmar joined in 1997, while Nepal and Bhutan joined in 2004, bringing membership to seven states. The BIMSTEC Secretariat is based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The organisation’s areas of cooperation include trade, investment, connectivity, energy, agriculture, public health and security. Its member states span South and Southeast Asia and connect the Bay of Bengal region.

Regional security cooperation

The meeting’s security agenda includes cross-border threats and criminal activities that can involve multiple jurisdictions. Transnational organised crime refers to serious criminal activity conducted across national borders. Illicit financial flows involve the movement of money across borders in ways that are unlawful or improperly recorded. Cyber threats concern attacks or criminal activity involving digital systems and networks. Cooperation among member states can involve information-sharing, coordination between law-enforcement agencies and joint action against cross-border criminal networks. The meeting is intended to reinforce collective efforts against the security challenges listed on its agenda.

Important Facts for Exams

• BIMSTEC was established on 6 June 1997.
• BIMSTEC has seven member states: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
• The BIMSTEC Secretariat is located in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• BIMSTEC connects countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia around the Bay of Bengal.

The first BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting is being held in New Delhi on 13 October 2026. Amit Shah is chairing the meeting.