The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion yesterday laid emphasis on broad based cooperation among the countries of SAARC for enhancing common economic growth and improving quality of people's life in the region.

They said that internal conflict and volatile political situation has been undermining the development progress of South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Mutual respect and effective cooperation among SAARC countries could help alleviate poverty and enhance trade and commerce in the region, they said.

It is necessary to form ' South Asian Union' for strengthening trade and commerce, food security, climate change and effective implementation of South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA), they added.

Their observation came at a meeting on " People's Expectation and South Asian Union" jointly organised by Media Foundation for Trade and Development (MFTD) and Equity and Justice Working Group (EJWG) at VIP lounge of the Jatiya Press Club.

Sadek Khan, columnist presided over and Farooq Ahmed of MFTD moderated the programme.

Mustafa Kamal Akanda, member of EJWG made welcome speech and Shamsuzzoha, member secretary of the organisation presented the keynote paper.

Hua Du, the outgoing Country Director of Asian Development Bank (ADB), Prof Maniruzzaman Mia, former Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University, Jaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha , QAMA Rahim, former Secretary General of SAARC, Dr Quazi Kholiquazzaman Ahmad, president of Bangladesh Economic Association, Abul hasan Chowdhury, former state minister for foreign affairs ,Waliur Rahman, Chairman of Bangladesh Heritage Foundation, former secretaries Sohel Ahmed and Siddiqur Rahman, Dr Ferdousi Begum and Shahidul Huq among others, took part in the discussion.

Hua Du said the SAARC countries have signed for setting up 'SAARC Food Bank' but still it remains in operational. She said that ADB would continue its support to SAARC in different areas.

On the issue of food security she said this year Bangladesh has achieved bumper food production due to subsidy of agriculture inputs by the government.

She hoped that the food price would be reduced gradually due to the surplus food production of this year.

"I believe Bangladesh will be able to stand up with its own strength and there are huge potentials for attaining self-sufficiency in food," she said.

She called upon the Government to take adaptation and mitigation plan along with indigenous technology to address natural calamities in the country.

She laid emphasis on infrastructure development of communication and cyclone warning centres.

Hua Du, who served six years as Country Director, is scheduled to leave the country today assured that the international lending agency would provide support to the government for implementation of social safety net programme.

Dr Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said about 30 per cent people of SAARC earn $ 1 per day only. He called upon countries of the region to work jointly for the uplift of the poor people.

Jaglul Ahmed Chowdhury laid emphasis on better connectivity and people to people contact among SAARC countries.

He said despite some constrains SAARC has moved forward. He hoped that one day there will be 'South Asian Parliament'.