The Bangladeshi capital Dhaka has beaten off strong competition from Sri Lanka to be chosen as the host city for a new headquarters for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Co-operation (BIMSTEC), officials said Saturday.
Foreign ministers of the organisation at their 13th meeting in Myanmar capital Nay Pyi Taw announced the decision Saturday after a lengthy negotiations between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The secretariat is expected to be operational sometime this year. Formed in 1997, the regional body comprises six members: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.