Dhaka, Sep 13 (IANS): Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Saturday inaugurated the permanent secretariat of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in Dhaka.

The BIMSTEC, initiated to connect South Asian and Southeast Asian countries, comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, Xinhua reported.

During the 13th BIMSTEC ministerial meeting held in Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar in 2011, it was unanimously decided that the secretariat would be set up in Bangladesh and the first secretary general would be appointed from Sri Lanka.

The secretariat has been set up in Dhaka's diplomatic enclave of Gulshan.

The first Secretary General Sumith Nakandala joined the secretariat in July and assumed office in Dhaka from August.

BIMSTEC, formed in June 1997 in Bangkok, covers 13 priority sectors, including counter terrorism and transitional crimes, trade and investment, transport and communications and poverty alleviation.