Bangladesh seeks SAARC revival
Bangladesh has reaffirmed its commitment to revitalising the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), with the government pledging a more proactive role to revive regional cooperation and address the challenges facing the regional grouping.
The commitment came as outgoing SAARC Secretary General Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar paid a farewell call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
During the meeting, Ambassador Sarwar briefed the State Minister on the current state of SAARC and highlighted the need for fresh initiatives to overcome the various challenges confronting the regional organisation.
He said regular activities of SAARC have continued despite the difficulties, along
with programmes supported by development partners.
He also informed the State Minister that the SAARC Development Report is expected to be published by the end of 2026.
The State Minister reaffirmed Bangladesh’s strong commitment to revitalising SAARC and said the Foreign Ministry intends to play a more proactive role in advancing the regional process.
She stressed the importance of sustained political engagement, cultural initiatives and wider participation of stakeholders in strengthening cooperation among South Asian countries.
Shama Obaed also expressed Bangladesh’s appreciation for Ambassador Sarwar’s stewardship of SAARC and said she was confident that the momentum achieved during his tenure would continue under his successor, with Bangladesh maintaining its support and cooperation.
She conveyed her best wishes to Ambassador Sarwar for the smooth conclusion of his tenure and a seamless transition to his successor.
Both sides underscored the need for renewed political attention and sustained efforts to reinvigorate the SAARC process and strengthen regional cooperation in South Asia.
Bangladesh’s renewed emphasis on SAARC comes amid longstanding challenges to the regional grouping, including limited political engagement among member states.
The government’s stated intention to take a more proactive role signals Dhaka’s interest in placing regional cooperation back on the diplomatic agenda.
