Dhaka, June 6 -- In their messages commemorating the 23rd anniversary of its establishment on Saturday, the governments of the BIMSTEC member states -- Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand -- expressed their commitment to working together and building better resilience across the region.

However, BIMSTEC authorities did not organise an event to celebrate the occasion due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stressed the importance of BIMSTEC as a platform for nations to collectively address the fallout and challenges stemming from the pandemic.

"The COVID-19 pandemic posed the world a serious challenge. It will leave long-lasting multiple impacts on the lives and living of people ...