DHAKA: The permanent secretariat of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in Dhaka is set to be launched on September 13. 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to inaugurate the secretariat formally, said a competent source.

Foreign ministers of the countries under BIMSTEC, a regional grouping of seven South and South East Asian nations, have already been invited to join in the inauguration ceremony. 

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Sumit Nakandala was nominated as secretary general of the new BIMSTEC Secretariat in Dhaka. 

Besides, three directors from Bangladesh, Bhutan and India were appointed for the secretariat. A flat for BIMSTEC director general has been fixed.

Earlier in March, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed to set up the Secretariat in Dhaka in Nay Pyi Taw during the third BIMSTEC Summit.

BDST: 1555 HRS, AUG 31, 2014