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13th SAARC Summit in Dhaka: The Context, Agenda and Expected Outcomes
9 November 2005, BRAC Centre Inn

 

Prominent economists, politicians, former ministers, diplomats, bureaucrats and civil society members have urged their respective leadership to come up with a positive mindset to strengthen regional cooperation for the betterment of one fourth population of this world - living under SAARC jurisdiction at a CPD dialogue titled 13th SAARC Summit in Dhaka: The Context, Agenda and Expected Outcomes held on 9 November 2005 at BRAC Centre Inn.

CPD organised the dialogue to create a citizen’s platform on the eve of the SAARC summit 2005 in Dhaka. Debapriya Bhattacharya reiterated in his introductory statement about the aspiration of civil society to have an effective window in the SAARC structure for sharing peoples concerns and interests with leaders, regarding issues of regional cooperation.

In his keynote speech, Reaz Rahman, Advisor to the foreign ministry said, “The predominance of politics over economics is the key challenge for SAARC.” He also observed that South Asia is brimming with confidence and SAARC countries want to maintain a momentum towards broadening and deepening regional cooperation.

Former Secretary General of SAARC Q A M A Rahim emphasised on SAARC Secretariat and informed the dialogue that the SAARC Secretariat was never given necessary powers to take up projects and implement those. He added, “It also lacks logistical support and team spirit” and suggested to allow the secretariat for its’ functioning with a clear mandate from member countries and said “Unless you are serious, the secretariat would not be serious.”

Former secretary Asafuddowla opined that meetings and discussions would not bring any substantive result if India backtracks on forging cooperation.

‘Time has come to think regionally at all levels’, M Morshed Khan, MP, Hon’ble Minister for Foreign Affairs said while speaking as Chief guest at the dialogue. Expressing his optimism about the future of SAARC, Mr. Khan also said SAARC must succeed because the people of this region are ready for it now. ‘There is no option left’.

The Special Guest, Former Minister Tofail Ahmed underscored the importance of cooperation within the country as well as the region and suggested, “if we can resolve our political problems, we can solve our economic problems” He also added, “As an independent country, we should have good relations with India but we have to be firm while discussing bilateral issues”.

In his concluding statement Professor Mohammad Yunus, the chair of the dialogue urged the SAARC leadership to turn the region into a hub of prosperity from a hub of poverty. He also said there is an infrastructure of regional cooperation but it lacks meaningful content. “We have to bring that content for making it effective.”