The Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, announced to Bangladeshi journalists at around 6:30 pm that they would reconvene after the official dinner, marking an unprecedented event at the SAARC foreign ministers' meeting. Despite canceling the scheduled briefing for foreign journalists, Ali revealed that efforts were being made to finalize an energy cooperation deal, while ruling out the possibility of signing two other deals related to road and railway connectivity. Although he did not explicitly name the country causing the delay in signing those deals, it was widely known that Pakistan was not in agreement. Despite the signing of agreements not guaranteeing implementation, it would signify a common goal of connectivity among member states at the summit themed 'Deeper Integration for Peace and Prosperity'. The summit, which will be closely monitored, will see leaders from eight member states coming together amid heightened security measures. The movement of accredited journalists has also been restricted. The meeting emphasized the timely implementation of regional projects and approved various proposals to enhance the effectiveness of the regional grouping. Key areas such as trade, economy, communications, energy, poverty reduction, climate change, combating terrorism, education, culture, regional cooperation, and youth development were highlighted during the meeting. Various initiatives and action frameworks were launched, and the SAARC Secretariat was tasked with organizing the summit at a specific time to align with the UN general assembly. The meeting also discussed the reduction of the SAFTA sensitive list and stressed the importance of investments in tourism. Additionally, innovative projects on energy and communications were encouraged, and plans to publish a biennial 'SAARC Development Report' were approved. The meeting also focused on enhancing the functionality of the SAARC food bank and transforming the South Asian University in New Delhi into a 'Center of Excellence'. Bangladesh's efforts to increase student and teacher participation from the country were supported, and the South Asian Women Development Forum was recognized as a SAARC body. The moratorium on new SAARC observers will continue, as confirmed by the Foreign Minister during a briefing at Hotel Soaltee Kathmandu, attended by Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque.