The cooperation among the Saarc states is based on the respect for principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-interference in internal affairs of the member states and mutual benefits, he said at the inaugural ceremony of the Saarc Charter Day at the Saarc Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC) in the city.

Joint Secretary to the defence ministry Brig Gen Shah Mohammad Sultan Uddin Iqbal attended the function as the special guest.

The acting foreign secretary said the Saarc agenda of cooperation spread over many substantive areas, including agriculture and rural development, health and population, women, youths and children, environment and forestry, science, technology and meteorology, trade and investment, and energy and human resources development.

On December 8, 1985, the historic Saarc charter was signed in Dhaka by the heads of state and government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The signing of the charter paved the way for formal launching of the Saarc, he said.

Touhid Hossain also said the Saarc charter demands that the people and the governments of South Asia should work together to find out solutions to the common problems in the sprit of cooperation based on mutual respect and shared benefits.

Director of the SMRC Dr Samarendra Karmaker also addressed the function.