Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali informed Bangladeshi journalists at around 6.30pm that they would reconvene after the official dinner, marking an unprecedented event in SAARC foreign ministers-level meetings where the meeting had been adjourned after completing all agendas. Ali mentioned efforts to finalize the energy cooperation deal, while stating that Nepal had canceled its scheduled briefing for foreign journalists. He ruled out the possibility of signing two other deals related to road and railway connectivity during the summit, hinting at Pakistan's reluctance to sign those agreements. The signing of the deals does not guarantee implementation, but would signify a commitment to connectivity and a common goal of deeper integration for peace and prosperity. The upcoming 18th summit, where member state leaders will gather amid tight security, will focus on setting the agenda. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's participation in the summit is seen as a positive sign of cooperation within the region. Bangladesh emphasized timely implementation of regional projects during the foreign ministers-level meeting, approving various proposals to enhance the effectiveness of the regional grouping. The meeting also discussed initiatives in trade, economy, communications, energy, poverty reduction, climate change, combating terrorism, education, culture, youth development, and regional cooperation. Additionally, decisions were made to launch research papers, action frameworks, and publications related to poverty alleviation, sanitation, nutrition, and the South Asian Economic Union. The meeting instructed the SAARC Secretariat to organize the summit at a specific time and requested member states to submit their lists for sensitive list reduction under SAFTA. Bangladesh also sought investments in tourism and proposed innovative projects in energy and communications. Plans were made to publish a biennial SAARC Development Report and to make the SAARC food bank operational by removing the threshold limit for members. The meeting emphasized on the South Asian University in New Delhi as a 'Center of Excellence', recognized the South Asian Women Development Forum as a SAARC body, and decided to continue the moratorium on accepting new SAARC observers.