BIMSTEC is a regional grouping. Which of the following lists correctly includes all of its member countries?

Introduction / Context:
BIMSTEC, which stands for Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, is an important regional organisation in South and South East Asia. It connects countries around the Bay of Bengal for cooperation in trade, connectivity, security and other sectors. Exams on international organisations often ask about its full form and its member countries. This question focuses on the membership list.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question asks which option correctly lists all BIMSTEC member states.
- The options provide different combinations of South Asian and South East Asian countries including or excluding some names.
- We assume the learner knows that BIMSTEC is distinct from SAARC and from groupings that involve China or Pakistan.

Concept / Approach:
BIMSTEC has seven member countries that lie around the Bay of Bengal region. These are Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan. The group aims to bridge South Asia and South East Asia. Notably, Pakistan and China are not members of BIMSTEC. The presence or absence of these two names is often used in exam options to test whether students can clearly distinguish between BIMSTEC and other regional groupings.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the acronym BIMSTEC and the phrase Bay of Bengal, which hints at countries around this body of water. Step 2: List from memory the seven members: Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan. Step 3: Examine each option and check which one exactly matches these seven countries without adding or omitting any. Step 4: Notice that the option including Pakistan is incorrect because Pakistan is not a BIMSTEC member. Step 5: Similarly, the option including China is incorrect because China is not part of BIMSTEC. Step 6: The option that lists only five countries omits Nepal and Bhutan, and therefore is incomplete. Step 7: Select the option that lists Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan together.

Verification / Alternative check:
International relations summaries and official BIMSTEC documents consistently mention that the grouping has seven members. SAARC includes Pakistan, while the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and other forums involve China. Remembering this distinction helps verify that Pakistan and China do not belong in any correct BIMSTEC membership list. The smaller Bay of Bengal states of Nepal and Bhutan joined later but are now recognised as full members, bringing the total to seven.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option with Pakistan: This list corresponds more to a modified SAARC style grouping and is incorrect because Pakistan is not part of BIMSTEC.

Option with China: China is a major regional power but does not belong to BIMSTEC, which is focused on Bay of Bengal littoral and adjoining countries.

Option with only five countries: This omits Nepal and Bhutan and therefore fails to present the complete membership.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse BIMSTEC with SAARC or with other Asian groupings and incorrectly include Pakistan or China. Another common error is to forget that landlocked countries like Nepal and Bhutan are still part of a Bay of Bengal initiative because of shared economic interests and connectivity projects. A simple way to remember is that BIMSTEC includes five Bay of Bengal littoral states plus the two Himalayan states of Nepal and Bhutan.

Final Answer:
BIMSTEC members are Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan.