PM for adoption of 'charter of democracy'
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
THIMPHU (Bhutan), Apr 27 (UNB): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Tuesday said this was the golden chance for all SAARC member countries to establish democracy on a strong base, as democracy was prevailing in all SAARC member countries at present.
She said this when Bhutan Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley called on her at Bangladesh House in SAARC Village.
The Prime Minister said that it would be easy to solve the problems of the region as the SAARC member countries were in democratic atmosphere.
She said that it was not possible for any country in the world to develop without having democracy.
She underscored the need for continuous democratic process in all member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and said that the democracy had to be built strongly.
She said that the democratic institutions had to be provided with strong base so they could function properly.
In this connection, she mentioned the 16th SAARC summit was very much important for this.
She said since all SAARC nations were functioning in democracies, we might adopt together a 'charter of democracy' to strengthen democratic practices and rule of law in South Asia.
Hasina also put emphasis on working together to eradicate poverty from this region and cooperating with each other for development in socio-economic areas.
She said that cooperation among each other was very much important to establish a peaceful situation in the region.
Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad briefed the reporters after the meeting.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thanked her counterpart for warm hospitality and congratulated him on organising the 16th SAARC summit. She also recalled her successful visit to Bhutan in November 2009.
She recalled the Bhutanese King's role during Bangladesh's liberation war and independence.
Meanwhile, Bhutanese Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Tshering Tobgay also called on the Bangladesh Premier at the same venue Tuesday.
Tshering Tobgay, who is the chairman of People's Democratic Party of Bhutan, praised the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
Another report adds: Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raja Gilani also called on the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Bangladesh House in the afternoon.
In the meeting Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh attaches high importance to congenial relations among the South Asian countries to promote peace, stability and development in the region and reiterated Bangladesh's commitment to maintain good relations with all its neighbours.
She underscored the need for working together to make SAARC a meaningful organisation through positive measures, concerted actions and mutually reinforcing cooperation.
Hasina said Bangladesh and Pakistan could work together to add further momentum to the SAARC process and to make SAARC a more vibrant and meaningful regional organisation.
The Prime Minister further said there was ample potential for enhancing the bilateral trade between the two countries and this should be exploited to increase the trade volume and also to narrow down the trade imbalance.
Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raja Gilani requested Hasina to play a vital role in making the SAARC a stronger regional organisation, as she had the experience of leading democratic movements as well as family background of leadership.
Later, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid a courtesy call on the Maldives President Mohammad Nasheed at the Maldives House in the SAARC Village here.
She said this when Bhutan Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley called on her at Bangladesh House in SAARC Village.
The Prime Minister said that it would be easy to solve the problems of the region as the SAARC member countries were in democratic atmosphere.
She said that it was not possible for any country in the world to develop without having democracy.
She underscored the need for continuous democratic process in all member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and said that the democracy had to be built strongly.
She said that the democratic institutions had to be provided with strong base so they could function properly.
In this connection, she mentioned the 16th SAARC summit was very much important for this.
She said since all SAARC nations were functioning in democracies, we might adopt together a 'charter of democracy' to strengthen democratic practices and rule of law in South Asia.
Hasina also put emphasis on working together to eradicate poverty from this region and cooperating with each other for development in socio-economic areas.
She said that cooperation among each other was very much important to establish a peaceful situation in the region.
Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad briefed the reporters after the meeting.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thanked her counterpart for warm hospitality and congratulated him on organising the 16th SAARC summit. She also recalled her successful visit to Bhutan in November 2009.
She recalled the Bhutanese King's role during Bangladesh's liberation war and independence.
Meanwhile, Bhutanese Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Tshering Tobgay also called on the Bangladesh Premier at the same venue Tuesday.
Tshering Tobgay, who is the chairman of People's Democratic Party of Bhutan, praised the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
Another report adds: Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raja Gilani also called on the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Bangladesh House in the afternoon.
In the meeting Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh attaches high importance to congenial relations among the South Asian countries to promote peace, stability and development in the region and reiterated Bangladesh's commitment to maintain good relations with all its neighbours.
She underscored the need for working together to make SAARC a meaningful organisation through positive measures, concerted actions and mutually reinforcing cooperation.
Hasina said Bangladesh and Pakistan could work together to add further momentum to the SAARC process and to make SAARC a more vibrant and meaningful regional organisation.
The Prime Minister further said there was ample potential for enhancing the bilateral trade between the two countries and this should be exploited to increase the trade volume and also to narrow down the trade imbalance.
Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raja Gilani requested Hasina to play a vital role in making the SAARC a stronger regional organisation, as she had the experience of leading democratic movements as well as family background of leadership.
Later, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid a courtesy call on the Maldives President Mohammad Nasheed at the Maldives House in the SAARC Village here.