Introduction: SAARC means South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation. It is an organization of co-operation among seven South Asian countries. Through this organization, the SAARC countries may be developed in many ways.
Background: The seven countries of South Asia; Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives are neighboring countries. They have a common social, economic, political and cultural background. The leaders of these countries had been realizing the importance of forming a committee for co-operation among these countries. Late President Ziaur Rahman proposed for a summit conference among the leaders of these countries. As a result, a committee was formed for regional co-operation.
Nomenclature: Subsequently the committee for co-operation among the South Asian countries was named, ‘South Asian Association for Regional co-operation’ (SAARC)
Aim and object: The aim and object of the SAARC
Fields of co-operation: The foreign secretaries of these seven countries formed a ‘Committee of the Whole.’ this committee decided the fields of co-operation, I. E. Agriculture, rural development, telecommunications, weather, health and family planning, and scientific development.
Summit conference: The heads of states of the seven countries attended a conference on 7th December 1985 in Dhaka. Hussain Muhammad Ershad, the then President of Bangladesh, was elected Chairman of this summit conference. All the heads of states expressed eagerness to co-operate with one another for socio-economic development and to settle up all disputes among these nations. It was decided in the said conference that SAARC summit should be held every year by turn in a member country. So far ten summit conferences were held in all the member countries. And the head of the Government of each country became the chairman by rotation. The last 18th conference was held in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu
Conclusion: The seven neighboring countries have more than 100 crore people. They share the same cultural and social heritage. A week-long cultural programme in Dhaka was staged in the auditorium of Osmani Memorial during the last summit conference. If these seven countries unitedly and wholeheartedly continue to co-operate with one another, a day is not far off when these countries will be able to get rid of poverty.