The EC's interest was conveyed when a delegation of senior officials of Saarc member countries called on the senior officials of the EC in Brussels last week, the officials said.

Additional Foreign Secretary Muniruzzaman represented Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Imtiaz Ahmed visited Germany last week and met the senior officials of German parliament in Berlin. German government has also showed its interest to get observer status of the regional grouping.

The foreign secretary of Cyprus also conveyed interest of his country to get observer status of Saarc when the director general called on him, the officials said.