FROM NEPAL: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reached Nepal to join the 18th Summit of SAARC scheduled to be begun in Katmandu, capital city of Nepal, on Wednesday.

The premier, also ruling Awami League president, will address the inauguration session along with other heads of the state and government of the countries.

On the sidelines of the first-day Summit, Sheikh Hasina is expected to hold meetings with Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Afghan President Dr Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

On November 27, Sheikh Hasina with other SAARC leaders will fly to Dhulikhel, one of the top tourist places of Nepal, to join the Summit Retreat Session.

After returning from Dhulikhel, they will attend the concluding session of the Summit on the same day.

Sheikh Hasina along with other SAARC leaders will call on Nepalese President Dr Ram Baran Yadav at Rastrapati Bhaban (President House).

The premier is scheduled to return Dhaka on November 28 at noon.

The idea of regional political and economical cooperation in South Asia was first raised in 1980 and the first summit was held in Dhaka on 8 December 1985,

The organization was established by the governments of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Now, SAARC is consisting of eight members with a new country, Afghanistan.

BDST: 1648 HRS, NOV 25, 2014