Based on the presentations during the 1st Dialogue on BIMSTEC-Japan Comprehensive Economic Cooperation: Bangladesh Perspective, held in Dhaka during July 7-8, 2006 the papers were prepared for a project entitled "Towards BIMSTEC--Japan comprehensive economic cooperation: Bangladesh perspective" undertaken at Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies, Dhaka in collaboration with Centre for Studies in International Relations and Development, Kolkata with the assistance of Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Tokyo.