Maldivian takes office as SAARC secretary-general

Maldivian Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed has this week taken office as secretary-general for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) becoming the first woman to hold the post.

Saeed succeeded India’s Sheel Kant Sharma in the post on Tuesday, claiming that she aimed to help SAARC expand its influence during her tenure among its member states that include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, as well as the Maldives.

According to SAARC, the secretary-general post is appointed by the orgnanisation’s Council of Ministers based on a nomination from a different individual member state every three years on the basis of alphabetic order.

Saeed, who had been serving as the Maldivian Envoy for South Asia was put forward by her national government.