Accession of Bangladesh to ASEAN

The accession of Bangladesh to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) refers to an ongoing attempt by the Bangladeshi government to gain membership status within ASEAN. Whilst formal expressions of interest emerged in the early 2020s, the origins of Bangladesh's aspirations date back to the 1970s. Its rejection led to the eventual establishment of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in 1985, which closely drew structural inspiration from ASEAN's model.

While the country has long maintained bilateral relations with ASEAN member states and participated in the ASEAN Regional Forum since 2006, it began actively pursuing closer institutional ties, initially seeking Sectoral Dialogue Partner (SDP) status, and eventually signaling intent for full membership. This aspiration gained renewed momentum following a change in government in 2024, when the caretaker administration under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus elevated ASEAN accession as a top foreign policy priority. Bangladesh has since secured expressions of support for ASEAN membership from three of the 11 ASEAN member states; Laos, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Though ASEAN has not yet set a formal timeline or pathway for accession. As of 2025, Bangladesh continues to lobby for SDP status as a strategic entry point into the bloc, while positioning itself for eventual full membership in the future. Since then, Bangladesh has garnered support from Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Timor-Leste, the Philippines, Singapore, and Cambodia for SDP status.