First BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi adopts the Delhi Declaration
13 October 2026
Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the first meeting of BIMSTEC Home Ministers in New Delhi on 13 October 2026.
The seven member states are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
The ministers approved a BIMSTEC Convention against Trafficking in Persons and a BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Drug Control.
They also approved an MoU on capacity building to combat money laundering and terror financing, and a Plan of Action on Illicit Financial Flows.
Mr Shah said the proposed BIMSTEC Disaster Management Centre is planned to be established in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
The Home Ministers' mechanism was welcomed at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok on 4 April 2025.
In plain words
BIMSTEC Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation — A seven-nation regional grouping around the Bay of Bengal.
Illicit financial flows Illicit financial flows — Money moved across borders in breach of law, such as proceeds of crime.