Kathmandu: A Consultative Workshop on the preparation of the SAARC Development Report (SDR) was held in Dhaka on October 15–16, 2025, under the theme “Shaping the Future Together for a Resilient SAARC.” The event was hosted by the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh with financial and technical support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The Workshop brought together delegations from SAARC Member States, including senior officials from ministries and agencies responsible for development issues, as well as representatives from foreign ministries.
The Workshop was opened by Prathma Uprety, Director (Information and Poverty Alleviation) at the SAARC Secretariat, who represented the SAARC Secretary General. In her remarks, she thanked the Government of Bangladesh for hosting the event and ADB for its continued support in promoting regional cooperation.
Chief Guest Dr. Monzur Hossain, Member (Secretary) of the Bangladesh Planning Commission, emphasized the importance of making the SAARC Development Report a meaningful and action-oriented document. He highlighted that as the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) approaches, South Asia must align national ambitions with regional cooperation to address poverty, inequality, climate resilience, and governance challenges.
Dongxiang Li, Lead Regional Cooperation Specialist at ADB’s South Asia Department, reaffirmed ADB’s continued commitment as a long-standing development partner of SAARC.
Delegations from Member States shared national perspectives and priorities for the preparation of the report. Dr. Posh Raj Pandey, ADB Consultant, presented the first draft of the SAARC Development Report, which served as the basis for discussions and recommendations.
The Workshop was chaired by Bidhan Baral, Joint Secretary at the Bangladesh Planning Commission, and concluded with the adoption of a report.
