The decision by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to admit East Timor marks a significant expansion of the bloc. Building on that momentum, ASEAN should now move to welcome Bangladesh into full membership.
With a population exceeding 170 million, Bangladesh already stands as one of Asia’s major markets and industrial hubs. Its large and youthful labor force and rapidly growing manufacturing sector would add scale and competitiveness to ASEAN’s economic community. Bangladesh’s booming garments and textiles industry exports more than $43 billion annually. Its digital economy is projected to surpass $10 billion within the decade, according to the Asian Development Bank.
Geographically, Bangladesh sits at a key junction between South Asia and the Bay of Bengal, acting as a natural bridge to Southeast Asia. Incorporating Bangladesh would extend ASEAN’s identity beyond its traditional footprint, deepen maritime and land-based connectivity, and strengthen trade corridors.
Politically, Bangladesh aligns with many of ASEAN’s core values. It is committed to multilateralism, contributes significantly to United Nations peacekeeping, and confronts climate change impacts similar to those faced by many ASEAN members. Its inclusion would broaden ASEAN’s representation by adding a Muslim-majority democracy and would affirm the region’s inclusivity and openness.
For ASEAN, the benefits are tangible. Admitting Bangladesh would add a high-growth market, strengthen production and logistics networks in neighboring South Asia, and diversify the bloc’s industrial base. With Bangladesh already integrated into regional value chains, its membership would enhance ASEAN’s economic resilience at a time of global supply-chain shifts.
The decision to admit East Timor shows ASEAN is willing to grow again. Bangladesh is the logical next step, not as a symbolic gesture but as a strategic partnership that reinforces ASEAN’s vision of a resilient, connected, and forward-looking region.