♦ India took over the chairmanship of Bay of Bengal Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) at the 13th Governing Council Meeting at Malé, Maldives on 21 February 2025.

♦ The Indian delegation, led by Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Government of India, assumed the Chair during the event.

♦ The BOBP-IGO was set up in 2003, is a regional fisheries body, specifically mandated to assist the member countries in increasing the livelihood opportunities and improving the quality of life of the small-scale/ artisanal fisher folk in the Bay of Bengal region.

♦ The current members of the organisation are Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka while Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand are cooperating non-contracting parties.