NAME ID

Ayon Ahmed - 1221072030

HISTORY
The concept of SAARC was first adopted by Bangladesh during 1977, under the
administration of President Ziaur Rahman.
In the late 1970s, SAARC nations agreed upon the creation of a trade bloc consisting of South
Asian countries.
The idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was again mooted in May 1980.
The foreign secretaries of the seven countries met for the first time in Colombo in April 1981.
The Committee of the Whole, which met in Colombo in August 1985, identified five broad
areas for regional cooperation. New areas of cooperation were added in the following years.

HISTORY
Afghanistan was added to the regional grouping on 13 November 2005.
With the addition of Afghanistan, the total number of member states were raised to eight (8).
In April 2006, the United States of America and South Korea made formal requests to be granted
observer status.
The European Union has also indicated interest in being given observer status, and made a formal
request for the same to the SAARC Council of Ministers meeting in July 2006.
On 2 August 2006 the foreign ministers of the SAARC countries agreed in principle to grant observer
status to the US, South Korea and the European Union.
On 4 March 2008, Iran requested observer status, followed shortly by the entrance of Mauritius.

FORM OF SAARC

Full Form OF SAARC South Asian Association Of Regional Co-Operation. The South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an organization of South Asian nations,
founded in December 1985.
It is dedicated to economic, technological, social, and cultural development emphasizing
collective self-reliance.
Its Seven founding members are Bangladesh Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and
Srilanka.
Afghanistan joined the organisation in 2005

MISSION

promoting welfare economics and collective self-reliance among the South Asian
Desirous of promoting peace, stability, amity and progress in the region through strict
adherence to the principles of the UNITED NATIONS
peace, freedom, social justice and economic prosperity are best achieved in the SOUTH
ASIAN region by fostering mutual understanding, good neighbourly relations and meaningful
cooperation among the Member.
improving the quality of life of the peoples of the region and also with the economic, social
and technical cooperation among the countries of SOUTH ASIA
One of the core mission of the SAARC is to create greater market opportunities, design and
deliver integrated solutions for business development, support and expand the operations of
SMEs through increased access to local, regional and global markets.
to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to
provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potential.

Current Members of the SAARC

1. Afghanistan ( joined the organization in 2007)
2. Bangladesh
3. Bhutan
4. India
5. Maldives
6. Nepal
7. Pakistan
8. Sri Lanka

OBSERVERS
1. Australia
2. China
3. European Union
4. Japan
5. Iran
6. Mauritius
7. Myanmar
8. S. Korea
9. USA

Relationship between Bangladesh and SAARC

Bangladesh has taken the full advantage of corridor diplomacy of the SAARC Summit which is a major feature of
SAARCs role in improving bilateral relations.
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Called upon the member states to go for more realistic, result-oriented
and mutually beneficial partnership for cooperation to prosper together.
Bangladesh is the second largest importer in South Asia. In 2007, Bangladesh accounted for 26% of total intraregional import.
SAARCs efforts to consolidate regionalism in South Asia, and Bangladeshs role in the context.
Bangladeshs new vision for collective development in the region bounded by the waters of the Bay of Bengal.
Bangladesh and SAARC would likely maximise the gains from trade with a view to promoting and sustaining
mutual trade and economic cooperation within the SAARC region through exchange of tariff concession.