Saarc Summit stalled for decade; Bhutan nominates Sonam Topgay as next secretary general

Bhutan has nominated Dasho Sonam Topgay for the post of Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), as the eight-member regional bloc remains deadlocked and has not convened a summit in more than a decade.

Topgay's nomination will require the consensus of all seven other Saarc member states before he can formally take charge of the regional body.

The nomination comes as incumbent Saarc Secretary General Md Golam Sarwar of Bangladesh is set to complete his three-year term at the end of October, an official told UNB.

Under Saarc's established alphabetical rotation system, it is Bhutan's turn to nominate the next secretary general.

The issue is likely to come up at a Saarc meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York next month, where member states may seek to reach a consensus on the next Secretary General, a diplomatic source told UNB.

Saarc comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The 18th Saarc Summit was held in Kathmandu, Nepal from November 26 to 27, 2014. The state heads of eight Saarc member countries along with their delegations had meeting during the Summit and discussed the agendas of Saarc.

The leaders, at the 18th Summit, welcomed the offer of the government of Islamic Republic of Pakistan to host the Nineteenth Summit of Saarc in 2016 in Islamabad but it was postponed following India's withdrawal from the event after the Uri terror attack. 

"You know our position on Saarc. I have clarified on many occasions. We all know why Saarc is not moving and there is one particular country which is responsible for that," Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson at the Ministry of External Affairs, told the reporters in New Delhi last week.

On the question of secretary general, he said, "Yes there is a secretary general because Saarc has a Secretariat. On the candidature of the new secretary general, I'll have to come back to you as to what the position is."

Bangladesh Renews Push to Revive Saarc

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has recently reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to revitalising the Saarc and highlighted the ministry's intention to play a more proactive role.

She emphasised sustained political engagement, cultural initiatives and broader stakeholder involvement.

Bangladesh thinks regional cooperation remains vital for addressing the common challenges facing South Asia and advancing the shared interests and aspirations of its peoples.

Bangladesh reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the Saarc process and emphasised the need to keep the spirit of regional cooperation alive through sustained engagement, dialogue and practical collaboration among member states.

The Saarc Secretary General Md Golam Sarwar paid a farewell courtesy call on Prime Minister of Bangladesh Tarique Rahman on 23 August.

During the meeting, the secretary general expressed his deep appreciation to the government and people of Bangladesh for the country's historic leadership and steadfast commitment to the Saarc process and regional cooperation.

He underscored the enduring significance of Saarc as the premier regional platform for promoting peace, stability, prosperity and shared development in South Asia, according to the Saarc Secretariat.

The secretary general recalled with profound respect the visionary initiative of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh, whose statesmanship and foresights led to the establishment of Saarc.

He also highlighted Bangladesh's pioneering role in the creation of the regional organization and its continued constructive contribution to advancing regional cooperation.

The secretary general acknowledged Bangladesh's important contribution as the host of the Saarc Agriculture Center and the South Asian Regional Standards Organization, and expressed sincere appreciation for the country's longstanding support to Saarc and its Specialized Bodies and Regional Centres.

The meeting underscored the importance of translating the shared vision of Saarc into practical, people-centred and result-oriented cooperation, with greater emphasis on economic integration, connectivity, food security, climate resilience, sustainable development and enhanced people-to-people contacts.

The secretary general expressed his sincere gratitude to the prime minister and the government of Bangladesh for their continued support to Saarc.

He reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with all Member States to advance the objectives of Saarc and contribute to the revitalization of the regional process, in keeping with the vision of its founding leaders and the aspirations of the peoples of South Asia.