The secretary-general of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation is head of the SAARC Secretariat, which is headquartered in Kathmandu, Nepal.[1]SAARC is an economic and geopolitical union between the eight South Asianmember nations, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.[2] The secretary-general is appointed for a three-year term by election by a council of ministers from member states. The secretary-general is assisted by eight deputies, one from each nation, who also reside in Kathmandu.[1] SAARC Secretariat was established in Kathmandu on 16 January 1987 by Bangladeshi diplomat Abul Ahsan, who was its first secretary-general, and was inaugurated by King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal. Since its creation, its member nations have contributed to a total of fourteenth general secretaries. Golam Sarwar from Bangladesh is the current secretary-general of SAARC, having assumed charge on 4 March 2023.[citation needed]
Since the secretary general is selected from the member countries of SAARC in alphabetical order, it was Afghanistan's turn after Sri Lanka. But as the Afghanistan has been ruling by Taliban and international community does not recognize the Taliban as the authentic government, Afghanistan's turn has been skipped for this time and the next heir to the post of the secretary general of the organization in alphabetical order has been selected the diplomat from Bangladesh.[citation needed]
Secretariat of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in Kathmandu, Nepal
Residence
The SAARC Secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal. It coordinates and monitors the implementation of activities, hosts meetings, and serves as a channel of communication between the association and its member states as well as other regional organizations.[1]
The secretary-general is assisted by eight directors on deputation from the member states, and SAARC Secretariat includes officials from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.[1]
Regional centres
The SAARC Secretariat is supported by the following regional centers established in member states to promote regional co-operation. These centers are managed by governing boards composed of representatives from all the member states, the SAARC Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the host government. The director of the center acts as member secretary to the Governing Board, which reports to the Programming Committee.
SAARC Agricultural Centre (SAC), Dhaka, Bangladesh
SAARC Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC), Dhaka, Bangladesh
SAARC Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Centre (STAC), Kathmandu, Nepal
SAARC Documentation Centre (SDC), New Delhi, India
SAARC Human Resources Development Centre (SHRDC), Islamabad, Pakistan
SAARC Coastal Zone Management Centre (SCZMC), Maldives
SAARC Information Centre (SIC), Nepal
SAARC Energy Centre (SEC), Pakistan
SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC), Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
There have been 12 democratically elected holders of the office of secretary-general of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).[1] Bangladesh held the first summit in Dhaka, where the Bangladeshi diplomat, Abul Ahsan was elected its first secretary-general. Since then, 11 more general secretaries have been selected from each member nation, so far except for Afghanistan.[1]
Secretaries general
List of appointees to Secretary-General of the SAARC
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