Dhaka to press for regional connectivity at Saarc summit

The regional connectivity in South Asia will get a boost during the upcoming Saarc Summit in Kathmandu, Nepal, when the leaders of the nations sign three agreements in this regard, said Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali in the city on Thursday.  
The two-day South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit will start on November 26.
Three agreements are expected to be signed at the summit - Saarc Motor Vehicles Agreement for the Regulation of Passengers and Cargo Vehicular Traffic amongst Saarc Member States, Saarc Regional Railway Agreement, and Saarc Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity).
"With the signing of these agreements, connectivity and cooperation in the power sector will increase, which will help expand trade relations among the member states," the minister told media at a press briefing, organised ahead of the summit.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lead a 37-member delegation to the programme, and will hold meetings with other Saarc leaders on its sidelines.
The foreign minister said prior to the summit, the 49th Programming Committee meeting (director general-level of Saarc and Bimstec) will be held on November 22, while the 41st Standing Committee meeting (foreign secretary-level) on November 23 and 24, and  the 36th meeting of Council of Ministers (foreign ministers) on November 25.
He also said during the summit Bangladesh will emphasise issues like youth development, poverty alleviation, connectivity, education, food security, regional trade and counter terrorism.
"In the Saarc summit Bangladesh will stress on strengthening cooperation on some issues that include development of the youth poverty alleviation, development of communication, cooperation in service sector and Safta, climate change, cooperation in science and technology and education, women empowerment in service sector, food security, and fight against terrorism."
He further added that Bangladesh will also focus on timely implementation of the decisions, taken at the Saarc summit, to make the group an organisation of common people in the region.
"We want that Saarc will play its due role for the development of mass people. We think it will be possible to make it an organisation of the commoners through timely implementation of the decisions."
Regarding the simplification of visa regime in the Saarc region, he opined, "We have achieved a lot in this connection. It is a continuous process. We need to do more".    

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com