Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today inaugurated the permanent secretariat of Bimstec at Gulshan in Dhaka today. Terming the inauguration day as “historic” for Bangladesh and Bimstec, she said the secretariat marks beginning of a new journey towards a greater and intense cooperation for this unique regional organisation that bridges South Asia and Southeast Asia.Opening the Secretariat is the culmination of our collective resolve to create a better and more prosperous future, she said."Let Bimstec secretariat become a hallmark of proud partnership of the seven-member states across the Bay of Bengal," she added.Bimstec (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) comprises of Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan and Thailand.The finance minister, foreign minister, state minister for foreign affairs and Bimstec secretary general also addressed during the inaugural function.