Bangladesh has emphasised the revitalising the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation at the second meeting of the SAARC Inter-Governmental Expert Group on poverty alleviation held in Malé of Maldives.

The meeting, held on April 22–23, aimed to finalise the first SAARC Development Report titled ‘SDR 2025: Shaping the Future Together for a Resilient SAARC,’ said a foreign ministry press release.

The meeting was hosted by the Maldives government with administrative support from the SAARC Secretariat and financial and technical assistance from the Asian Development Bank.

The Bangladesh delegation was led by Monzur Hossain, member (secretary) of the General Economics Division of the Planning Commission.

The delegation also included SM Mahbubul Alam, director general of the SAARC and BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bangladesh’s national focal point to SAARC.

The delegations at the meeting stressed a visible, functional and resilient SAARC, which they said was the dream and aspirations of over two billion (200 crore) people of the South Asian region.

Delegations from the member states also presented their respective national perspectives and priorities for SAARC development through deepened regional collaboration to address shared vulnerabilities, fostering collective resilience, and promoting inclusive growth across the region.

Above all, they stressed the need to revitalise the SAARC process to ensure the well-being and mutual benefits of the region and its people.

The session was chaired by Maldives deputy minister for finance and public enterprises Ali Rasheed.