A file picture of the recently concluded Indo-Bhutan rally

Siliguri, March 8: Representatives from Saarc countries will soon be touring the region as part of a car rally.

The maiden event will be flagged off from Cox’s Bazaar in Bangladesh on March 15 and the cars are expected to enter India, three days later, through Changrabandha in Cooch Behar.

“From Changrabandha they will go to Bhutan through Jaigaon the next day,” said B.L. Meena, the divisional commissioner of Jalpaiguri. “They will re-enter India through Assam and will pass through Cooch Behar, Siliguri and Panitanki before entering Nepal.”

The rally, which is being held to foster cultural exchange, will flaunt the motto — Connecting People, Strengthening Ties. More than 120 participants in 25 cars will take part in the event.

“Eminent people from the member countries, including academicians, government officials, industrialists, thespians, writers and journalists, will take part in the rally, which will pass through all the seven countries,” Meena said. “The rally is the result of a proposal mooted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the 13th Saarc summit held in Dhaka in 2005.”

Administrative sources said the rally would travel 8,200 km in 31 days, going through Bangladesh-India-Nepal-Bhutan-Pakistan-Sri Lanka, ending in the Maldives. The Indian team will be led by Preeti Saran, a joint secretary in the external affairs ministry, they added.