Bangladesh reaffirms support for revitalisation of Saarc process

Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman has reaffirmed Bangladesh's unwavering support and commitment to revitalising the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc).

During a call on him by Saarc Secretary General Md Golam Sarwar, the minister expressed Bangladesh's readiness to take proactive initiatives to strengthen and revitalise the regional organisation, according to a press release issued today (24 February).

Khalilur reiterated Bangladesh's commitment to the principles outlined in the Saarc Charter, including sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-interference in internal affairs, and the mutual benefit of the peoples of member states.

The foreign minister recalled that the idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was first proposed by Bangladesh in the early 1980s by the late president Ziaur Rahman to promote people's welfare, improve quality of life, and strengthen collective self-reliance in the region.

As one of the founding members and host of the very first Saarc Summit in December 1985, and later in 1993 and 2005, Bangladesh acknowledged the valuable role of Saarc in fostering common regional values and promoting cooperation in key areas including trade, investment, connectivity, poverty alleviation, power, climate change, food security, education, public health, culture, and people-to-people contacts.