The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Political leaders, academic and civil society representatives yesterday emphasised on bringing dynamism in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to address poverty reduction and to uplift life standard in the region.

So far, SAARC has failed to play an effective role in alleviating poverty, attaining food autarky and addressing the climate change even after two decades of its inception, they said at a discussion on " SAARC 2008: Joint Initiatives for Food Security and Climate Change" at VIP lounge of Jatiya Press Club.

Sushasoner Jonno Procharavijan (SUPRO), an NGO campaigning for good governance organised the programme.

Pradip Kumar Roy, Chief Executive and Abdul Awal, Chairperson of SUPRO gave the welcome speech and moderated the programme respectively. Laurence Besra, project coordinator of the organisation presented keynote paper.

Begum Matia Chowdhury, former food minister and Awami League leader, Abdul Mannan, former state minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism and BNP leader, GM Kader, former Member of Parliament (MP) of Jatiya Party, Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman, former army chief, Jaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Managing Director and Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) among others, spoke on the occasion. Joint initiatives and concerted efforts among the South Asian countries are needed with a view to put pressure on developed countries to do more on climate change issue since they are mainly responsible for emitting carbon, they added.

They also said proper management and equal share of common rivers of the region could significantly help achieve food autarky in the region.

They called upon the leaders of the SAARC countries to change their mindset and take joint efforts for addressing the climate change and food security issues.

Matia Chowdhury said there is no alternate of regional cooperation for attaining food security in the country.

"We need to maintain regular dredging of our rivers for optimum use of its water," she said.

Jaglul said SAARC has moved forward positively despite some constraints. He said the SAARC countries should focus more on food security.

"I believe one day there will be formed 'South Asian Parliament'," he said.

Abdul Mannan said India should sacrifice a lot for ensuring common benefits of the SAARC countries.

Kader said the achievement of SAARC is not beyond question as train communications between the countries of the region are the outcome of bilateral accord.

Mahbubur Rahman said Bangladesh is being deprived of its river water and a permanent possession of 'Tin Bigha' corridor.

Nurul Islam Nahid former Member of Parliament (MP) of Awami League, Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, Dr Dalem Chandra Barman, Syeda Rezwana Hasan, Executive Director of BELA, Rokeya Kabir, Executive Director of BNPS and Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, Executive Board Member of SUPRO, among others, were also present on the occasion.