CPD Dialogue
Leaders urged to have positive mindset to strengthen Saarc

The Daily Star
November 10, 2005

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Prominent economists, politicians, former ministers, diplomats, bureaucrats and civil society members have urged the leadership of South Asian region to make the Saarc effective and take up programmes to improve the lot of the 140 million people of this region.
In this age of globalisation, regional cooperation is the demand of time and there is no scope of remaining isolated from the process of development of the present day world, they said at a dialogue in the city yesterday.

They also urged the leadership to come up with a positive mindset and strengthen regional cooperation for the betterment of the people.

A number of speakers regretted that Saarc has done little to change the fate of the people of this region since its launching 20 years ago. In many cases, it appears like a 'fashion show' they said, calling for drastic steps to put an end to this.

They felt that until and unless India changes its mindset, meaningful regional cooperation will remain a far cry.

"The last train has come to Bangladesh, for creation of a better life for us, please do not miss it," Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan said speaking as chief guest at the dialogue,. organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) at the BRAC Centre.

Expressing his optimism about the future of Saarc, he said it must succeed because the people of this region are now ready for it. "There is no option left."

Morshed stressed making the third decade of saarc a decade of implementation, saying, "We have made many important pledges and commitments. Now it is time to demonstrate action".

Slow progress of Saarc is the failure of the leadership and not of the common people, he said. "We are captive in the hand of India-Pakistan rivalry".

Morshed noted that whether regional cooperation in South Asia will have an accelerated pace depends not only on the governments alone. The leadership of civil society, professionals and business community must also play a vital role to attain this.

Awami League leader and former minister Tofail Ahmed underscored cooperation within the country as well as the region. "As an independent country, we should have good relations with India but we have to be firm while discussing bilateral issues," he said.

He said the leader of the opposition in parliament was not properly invited to the ensuing summit. "She was invited through a card as in the case of any other member of parliament," he regretted.

Former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Ahsan Chowdhury suggested that parliaments of Saarc countries should dedicate one day a week to the resolution of Saarc-related issues. Increased people to people contact could force the governments to go for effective cooperation, he thought.

Managing Director of Grameen Bank Dr Mohammad Yunus urged the Saarc leadership to turn the region into a hub of prosperity from a hub of poverty.

The renowned economist, who moderated the dialogue, said there is an infrastructure of regional cooperation but it lacks meaningful content. "We have to bring that content for making it effective."

In the context of the present global political and economic situation, a platform like Saarc is necessary, and it is giving its leadership an opportunity to sit together and discuss, he pointed out.

Despite the failures of Saarc, it is no less important that the leaders of this region are sitting together, Yunus said. "Otherwise, they would not have seen each other's face".

Explaining the position of Bangladesh in Saarc, he observed that it would be a crossroad to other member countries.

Reaz Rahman, foreign ministry adviser, in his keynote speech said, "The predominance of politics over economics is the key challenge for Saarc."

South Asia is brimming with confidence and Saarc countries want to maintain a momentum towards broadening and deepening regional cooperation, he said.

Debapriya Bhattacharya , executive director of the CPD, said, "The South Asia region is haunted by a two headed dragon -- poverty and terrorism ... The twin headed dragon which is spitting fire in the form of poverty and terrorism has to be slain with goodwill and vision."

Regional integration, national unity and social justice are necessary for achieving success in this regard, he pointed out.

Former secretary Asafuddowla said meetings and discussions will not bring any substantive result if India backtracks on forging cooperation.

Former secretary general of Saarc Q A M A Rahim said the Saarc secretariat was never given necessary powers to take up projects and implement those. "It also lacks logistic support and team spirit".

He suggested giving the secretariat a clear mandate for its functioning. "Unless you are serious, the secretariat would not be serious."

JSD leader Hasanul Huque Inu said only five per cent cut in military spending of this region can save $ 8 billion a year.

Workers Party leader Rashed Khan Menon said Saarc is not functioning properly because it is yet to come out of the 'mindset of 1947'.

Shaheen Anam of Manusher Janno said Saarc can take up the issue of human trafficking in the region. Thousands of women and children are being trafficked from Bangladesh and Nepal, she regretted.

Other speakers included lawmkers GM Quader, Abu Hena and Faruq Khan.