SAARC car rally begins

Phuentsholing, March 15: Chief of the Bangladesh's caretaker government Dr Fukaruddin Ahmed flagged off the SAARC car rally amid fanfare in the south-eastern tourist town of Cox's Bazaar, reports said.

Flanked by envoys and diplomats of the seven SAARC countries, Ahmed autographed a flag as the vehicles rolled out from the Cox's Bazar stadium under scorching sun.

In his address to the inaugural function, Ahmed expressed hope that the rally would help further deepen regional integration.

"It is a fitting curtain raiser to the 14th SAARC summit set for this year in New Delhi," he said.

Indian Prime Minister Dr Man Mohan SIngh first floated the concept of car rally during the 13th SAARC summit in November 2006 held in Dhaka for better connectivity among the SAARC members.

A total of 120 people, including some celluloid stars of Bangladesh, are in the rally that ends in the Maldivian capital, Male a month later.

Thirty Tata Safaris, which however were rejected by Pakistanis, carrying the participants from SAARC nations would travel through more than 8,200 km across varying terrains of the region in 30 days.

The rally will enter Bhutan on March 15, Monday and exit on March 21. Bhutan News Service