Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – Bangladesh has attained the status of Permanent Observer of the Organisation of American States (OAS), the oldest multilateral regional organisation founded by the United States in 1948.
“Through this new status, I anticipate a strengthened engagement and cooperation between our organisation and your country for the common benefit of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the Americas,” said Luis Almagro, secretary general of OAS, in a letter addressed to Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali.
Earlier, Bangladesh applied for the status of Permanent Observer of the OAS with a view that it would add value to the organisation based on its shared convictions in the areas of democracy, human rights, security and development, said a press statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangladesh on Monday.
Moreover, it will also strengthen ties and increase deeper engagements of Bangladesh with the Latin American and Caribbean countries, the statement added.
OAS came into being to address issues of mutual concern comprising only 20 Latin American countries at that time. Now it has 35 members from North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean countries with 72 permanent observers from all over the world.
BBN/SS/ANS