Bangkok (Thailand), April 4 -- Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Friday asked the BIMSTEC secretariat to take the initiative for a BIMSTEC youth festival to increase engagement among the young boys and girls of member states.

Dr Yunus gave the directive to BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey soon after he assumed the role of new BIMSTEC chairman at the end of its sixth summit.

Mani, a former Indian diplomat, called on the Chief Adviser at the end of the summit to discuss the future initiatives of the organisation.

The Chief Adviser also asked Mani to ensure a separate youth gathering when BIMSTEC held its next summit in Dhaka two years later, CA's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB.

Hasina's extra...