Make efforts to implement political decisions

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday emphasised sincere efforts of the top administrative officials of the SAARC member states to implement the political decisions of their respective governments, reports UNB.

The Prime Minister laid the emphasis when the cabinet secretaries and equivalent officers of the SAARC member countries called on her at Ganobhaban.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM's special assistant Mahbubul Hoque Shakil said the Prime Minister mentioned that the politicians take decisions, but it is the administration of a country which is responsible to implement those.

The two-day 2nd meeting of the Saarc Cabinet Secretaries began at a city hotel today (Saturday) with a view to identifying the priority areas of increased cooperation among the countries of the region.

The Prime Minister said that the common enemy of the region was poverty and advocated working unitedly to fight the poverty.

She also said that the SAARC member states would have to work together to combat terrorism, trafficking in children and women, and smuggling of arms. "It is not possible to fight against these elements alone; for this united efforts are needed."

About the economy of the region, Hasina said that the SAARC region has a huge population. "We could strengthen our economy by increasing the purchasing power of the people."

Emphasising establishing of peace in the region, she said that coordinated efforts were essential for it.

"To make the region a peaceful one, the implementation of the political decision of the politicians depends on your actions," the PM told the top administrative officials.

SAARC secretary general Arjun B Thapa and representatives from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were present during the meeting.