Dhaka's proposal sought for Saarc News Agency

Saarc Information Centre (SIC) has formally sought a proposal from Bangladesh for establishing a permanent Saarc News Agency (SNA) for the better flow of information in the South Asia region.
Talking to the news agency about the proposal for the SNA, Information Secretary Hedaetullah Al Mamoon yesterday said, “This is a very good initiative and we've taken it positively.”
He said SIC Director Laxmi Bilas Koirala in a letter to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) City Editor Ajit Kumar Sarkar on Tuesday requested for submitting a proposal for establishing SNA as per the Bangladesh proposal placed during a seminar held in Paro of Bhutan recently.
In his letter, Koirala lauded the well-thought-out idea on establishing the Saarc News Agency. “I would like to place on the record my appreciation for the work carried out by you for realisation of the Saarc News Agency for better flow of information on Saarc in the region,” said the SIC director.
Sources at the information ministry said its secretary Hedaetullah Al Mamoon, BSS City Editor Ajit Kumar Sarkar and Director General (Saarc and Bimstec) Syed Masud Mahmood Khundoker had a meeting at the secretariat in this regard and decided to send a project concept paper prepared by Ajit Kumar Sarkar through a formal channel soon.
The concept paper proposed for setting up a permanent news agency in the South Asia region with organisational structure, news inflow and outflow and a sustainable plan in 3-5 years, according to the sources.
The government is eager to extend cooperation to the initiatives that would promote trade, investment and development issues as well as enhance image of Saarc countries, they said.