<p style="text-align:justify"><img alt="" src="http://mofa.portal.gov.bd/uploader/server/../../sites/default/files/files/mofa.portal.gov.bd/press_release/5c9876bd_4711_4824_a501_a6d28d1a8d5b/rsz_pic_pr_bimstec.jpg" style="height:165px; width:220px" /></p>

<p style="text-align:justify">Foreign Minister A.H. Mahmood Ali received the newly appointed Secretary General of BIMSTEC Mr. M Shahidul Islam at the Foreign Ministry this morning. The Foreign Minister congratulated Mr. Shahidul Islam for taking over as the Secretary General of BIMSTEC and expressed his happiness over being the first Bangladeshi diplomat to have occupied this post. The new Secretary General thanked the Foreign Minister for extending all out support and assistance to him and the Secretariat to facilitate his smooth assumption of the charge as the Secretary General of BIMSTEC and for smooth functioning of the Secretariat. The new Secretary General briefed the Foreign Minister about the present status of different BIMSTEC programmes and shared his ideas as to how to go ahead in coordination activities with the member states and sought the support and guidance from the Foreign Minister.</p>

<p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; text-align:justify">The Foreign Minister assured the Secretary General of extending all possible assistance and support to address and overcome the challenges for making the Secretariat more functional and operational and expressed the hope that the new Secretary General would carry the organization forward with new spirit and vigour. The Foreign Minister advised him to meet all leaders of member states and take their advice about running of the organization. The Foreign Minister also advised the new Secretary General to prepare a comprehensive plan of action and submit the same to member states as to how best member states should act and support him in flourishing the organization and achieving desired goals and objectives of the BIMSTEC process. The Foreign Minister assured the Secretary General of all out support and cooperation from the Foreign Ministry and wished him all success in his tour of duty.</p>