Correct Answer:
A. Bangladesh
The correct answer is Bangladesh. The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is a regional intergovernmental organization that primarily includes countries from Central and West Asia, and Bangladesh is not among its member states.
Understanding the ECO Membership
- Founding Members: ECO was founded in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey as a successor to the Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD). These three countries remain the core members.
- Expansion in 1992: After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, seven new members joined: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. This brought the total to 10 full members.
- Geographical Focus: The organization spans Central and West Asia, focusing on trade, infrastructure, and energy cooperation. Bangladesh, being located in South Asia, has its primary regional affiliation with SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) instead.
- Why Bangladesh is Excluded: Despite having cultural and religious ties with some ECO members, Bangladesh is not geographically part of the ECO region and has never sought membership. It is active in SAARC, BIMSTEC, and other forums.
Thus, Bangladesh is not a member of the Economic Cooperation Organization.