Govts of South Asian countries urged to bring-out SAARC from corridor of bureaucracy
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
FE Report
Speakers at a seminar called upon the governments of the South Asian countries to bring-out SAARC from the corridor of bureaucracy and make the organisation effective in promoting the welfare of the region's common people.
They also urged the South Asian governments to promote people-to-people contacts on a larger scale through developing South Asia a 'visa-free region along with a free trade regime' ahead of the 16th SAARC Summit to be held in Bhutan on April 28-29.
They made the remark at a seminar organised by People's SAARC Bangladesh National Committee, a coalition of right groups at CIRDAP auditorium in the city.
Dr. Rashid E Mahbub, Chairperson of Peoples' SAARC Bangladesh National Committee, chaired the seminar while Rokeya Kabir moderated.
Md Shamsuddoha of EquityBD said in his keynote presentation, "Two and a half decade ago SAARC was launched with a common vision to promote regional co-operation that, basically, represents the hopes and aspiration of all common people of the region."
He said, "However, in the declaration issued after the first SAARC Summit, the leaders made this process conditional to 'peace and security', and the SAARC Charter deliberately excluded 'bilateral or contentious issues' from the discussion. This has to be revised, SAARC Charter should include bilateral contentious issues for immediate resolution."
Speakers at a seminar called upon the governments of the South Asian countries to bring-out SAARC from the corridor of bureaucracy and make the organisation effective in promoting the welfare of the region's common people.
They also urged the South Asian governments to promote people-to-people contacts on a larger scale through developing South Asia a 'visa-free region along with a free trade regime' ahead of the 16th SAARC Summit to be held in Bhutan on April 28-29.
They made the remark at a seminar organised by People's SAARC Bangladesh National Committee, a coalition of right groups at CIRDAP auditorium in the city.
Dr. Rashid E Mahbub, Chairperson of Peoples' SAARC Bangladesh National Committee, chaired the seminar while Rokeya Kabir moderated.
Md Shamsuddoha of EquityBD said in his keynote presentation, "Two and a half decade ago SAARC was launched with a common vision to promote regional co-operation that, basically, represents the hopes and aspiration of all common people of the region."
He said, "However, in the declaration issued after the first SAARC Summit, the leaders made this process conditional to 'peace and security', and the SAARC Charter deliberately excluded 'bilateral or contentious issues' from the discussion. This has to be revised, SAARC Charter should include bilateral contentious issues for immediate resolution."