KATHMANDU: The 17th BIMSTEC meeting of the foreign ministers has concluded on Thursday. The meeting has ended without any reference to brutal military suppression in Myanmar.

Foreign ministers of member countries, including BIMSTEC Chair Sri Lanka, sticking with the pre-determined agendas, expressed their views on regional cooperation in the virtual meeting.

A minister from Myanmar also participated in the meeting. Critics have said that inviting representative from Myanmar during the hostile situation in the country meant legitimizing the army-led government there.

Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand.