Back to Clip Index

Law. Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Banister Moudud Ahmed on Sunday laid emphasis on political consensus in the regions of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries to implement its charter properly.

He was addressing as the chief guest the seminar on "follow-up of SAARC summit decisions concerning the SAARC social charter" organised by South Asia Center for Policy Studies (SACEI'S) in collaboration with Center for Policy Dia­logue (CPD) in a city hotel on Sunday.

Managing Director of Granteen Bank Ltd. Prof. Muhammad Yunus chaired the meeting.

Chief socio-economic governance and management branch of United Nations in New York Dr. Adil Khan. Executive Director of SACEPS Prof. Rehman Sohhan. convener of SACEPS task force on the citizen's charter Dr. Godfrey Gunatilleke of Sri Lanka coordinator of citizen's social charter prepara­tion task force of India Prof. Muchkund Duhey and Khushi Kabir of Nijera Kori took part in the dis­cussion.

"Much achievement have already been achieved in the fields of pover­ty alleviation, spreading education. empowerment of women in the SAARC region." Moudud said. adding. " if there were any lacuna in the SAARC charter necessary amendment would he adopted in this regard.

"If the SAA RC charter imple­mented. which was officially adopt­ed at the SAARC summit in Islamabad in January this year designed to deal social. political. economic and human rights issues in the region. peace would establish. the law minister said.

He said more discussions on the SAARC charter are to he held among the citizens, individuals and women groups and as well as in parliament sessions with political coil census in every member countries in the grater interest of the general people. "The citizen's charter on the other hand. has dealt with social integration and good governance, an area which was not addressed by the SA ARC charter." Yunus said. adding " micro-credit. information technology, role of local government like Union Parishad. Gram Sarker and pourasavas have to achieve millennium goal.

Dr. Godfrey said "the states and the peoples of South Asia should eliminate all forms violence against minorities and disadvantaged groups to ensure rule of law and good governance in the region which was advocated by citizen’s charter.