He has also urged for a "transformation" of the seven-nation group consisting of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand from South Asia and Southeast Asia into a more dynamic organization. This appeal was made at the 16th BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kathmandu, chaired by Nepalese Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, ahead of the fourth summit. Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali highlighted the progress made since the 3rd BIMSTEC meeting in Myanmar in 2014 and the BIMSTEC Leaders' pledge at the Goa Retreat in India in October 2016. He reaffirmed Bangladesh's dedication to BIMSTEC cooperation. He requested the foreign ministers of BIMSTEC to evaluate the organization's structure, particularly in terms of cooperation, and to enhance the Secretariat. He emphasized the importance of finalizing the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area and its related MoUs and protocols for prompt implementation. Bangladesh highlighted the significance of collaboration in key areas such as connectivity, energy, poverty reduction, climate change, and people-to-people interactions. The summit's agenda was also finalized during the meeting. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to depart for Kathmandu on Thursday morning to participate in the two-day summit.