The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has given observer status to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc). Bangladesh had been pursuing the matter since the 12th Saarc Summit, said a foreign ministry press release yesterday.
This will allow the seven-nation regional forum a greater opportunity to maintain cooperation with the UN organisations and project objectives and purposes of the forum to the international community.
The observer status will also enable the Saarc to attend sessions of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and its main committees, to attend other meetings of the Economic and Social Council and those organised under the auspices of the UN system.