Hasina formally invited to SAARC summit

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been formally invited to the 18th SAARC summit to be held at Nepal's capital Kathmandu next month.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 13 Oct 2014, 02:48 PM
Updated : 13 Oct 2014, 02:48 PM

Visiting Nepalese Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey handed her the invite from Prime Minister Sushil Koirala on Monday evening.

After the courtesy call at the Ganabhaban, Hasina's Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhury told reporters that the prime minister had accepted the invitation.

"Yes, we are prepared to go to the summit," he quoted her as saying.

Hasina said Bangladesh always emphasised cooperation with neighbouring countries as they faced similar problems.

"We could resolve these issues if we are united," she said.

The press secretary said Hasina and Pandey discussed issues like motor connectivity between Bangladesh and Nepal.

They both stressed on a deal among the SAARC nations for a "balanced growth and development" of the region.

Hasina also emphasised reaching a tripartite deal among Bangladesh, India and Nepal for physical connectivity with Kathmandu. She said she had pushed for it when she met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York last month.

"A discussion is underway to this end," she told the Nepal foreign minister.

The prime minister said a Bangladesh-Nepal joint effort was necessary for promoting tourism stretching from the Himalayas to Cox's Bazar.

The 18th SAARC Summit will be held from Nov 26-27. It will be the third time Nepal will host the summit after 1997 and 2002.