bdnews24.com :
Pakistan’s absence will not cast a shadow over the South Asian sanitation meet, SACOSAN, beginning Monday in Dhaka, officials say, but activists believe this can “threaten the continuity” of this crucial conference being held regularly since 2003.
President Md Abdul Hamid will inaugurate the three-day meet meant to set future action plans based on past experiences on sanitation, regarded as a development challenge of the region.
At the end of the conference, a ministerial meeting will adopt a ‘Dhaka declaration’.
Islamabad did not send its ministerial delegation in the wake of a recent diplomatic spat with Dhaka following Pakistan’s comments on Bangladesh’s war crimes trial and the withdrawal of diplomats from both sides.
“Their High Commissioner in Dhaka will represent the conference with two officials,” the conference chairperson Md Khairul Islam, a deputy secretary of the Bangladesh local government division, said at a briefing on Sunday. Focal points of all participating countries – Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan and Afghanistan – except Pakistan
were present at the press meet in Dhaka.
“There are some problems and that’s why they are not coming (from Islamabad),” Islam said, without explaining the details.
Earlier, bdnews24.com reported that Pakistan had pulled out of the conference following the diplomatic spat.
It had shortened the list of the ministerial delegation from 60 to 13, cancelling the visit of its minister for climate change. The Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad later did not issue visas for those 13 official level delegates, Pakistan High Commission spokesperson Ambreen Jan earlier told bdnews24.com.
Bangladesh focal point Islam had said due to changes in its delegation, Pakistan could not turn up in the right time for visas.
Activists, however, believe this will hamper the conference process. This is “unfortunate”, Regional Convener of the Fresh Water Action Network South Asia Ramsety Murali told bdnews24.com on Pakistan’s failure to attend the conference.
Murali, who is in Dhaka now for attending the conference, said a “strong commitment” of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal on the sanitation issue was imperative as those countries face “serious problems” related to open defecation and other challenges of urban sanitation.
“This is a perfect example of how inter-country sensitivities are affecting the development activities of the region,” he said. He said the Dhaka declaration can still be adopted, but Pakistan will remain out of the entire process.
Besides, he said, Pakistan was scheduled to host the next SACOSAN. And traditionally the baton of the next conference is passed at a ceremony at the end of the conference. “This year this formal ceremony will not happen,” he said, “It’s going to threaten the continuity of SACOSAN”.
The conference chairperson Islam, however, did not see any threat.
“I don’t think there is any threat for the next conference,” he said, when asked.
His Indian counterpart seconded his comment at the press briefing.
“In no way will this (Pakistan’s absence) affect the sanitation issue”, G Balasubramanian, deputy adviser of Swachh Bharat Mission under Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, said.
He also said that Pakistan had confirmed a 60-member delegation before.
This conference, with the theme “better sanitation better life”, comes just after the beginning of the new Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) era on Jan 1.
Balasubramanian said the conference had a positive impact on the South Asian countries.
He said the movement generated from the conference helped India increased its sanitation coverage.
International NGO WaterAid estimates that each $1 spent on sanitation can return $4 to a country, apart from reducing unwanted deaths due to diarrhoea and respiratory infections.
Pakistan’s absence will not cast a shadow over the South Asian sanitation meet, SACOSAN, beginning Monday in Dhaka, officials say, but activists believe this can “threaten the continuity” of this crucial conference being held regularly since 2003.
President Md Abdul Hamid will inaugurate the three-day meet meant to set future action plans based on past experiences on sanitation, regarded as a development challenge of the region.
At the end of the conference, a ministerial meeting will adopt a ‘Dhaka declaration’.
Islamabad did not send its ministerial delegation in the wake of a recent diplomatic spat with Dhaka following Pakistan’s comments on Bangladesh’s war crimes trial and the withdrawal of diplomats from both sides.
“Their High Commissioner in Dhaka will represent the conference with two officials,” the conference chairperson Md Khairul Islam, a deputy secretary of the Bangladesh local government division, said at a briefing on Sunday. Focal points of all participating countries – Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan and Afghanistan – except Pakistan
were present at the press meet in Dhaka.
“There are some problems and that’s why they are not coming (from Islamabad),” Islam said, without explaining the details.
Earlier, bdnews24.com reported that Pakistan had pulled out of the conference following the diplomatic spat.
It had shortened the list of the ministerial delegation from 60 to 13, cancelling the visit of its minister for climate change. The Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad later did not issue visas for those 13 official level delegates, Pakistan High Commission spokesperson Ambreen Jan earlier told bdnews24.com.
Bangladesh focal point Islam had said due to changes in its delegation, Pakistan could not turn up in the right time for visas.
Activists, however, believe this will hamper the conference process. This is “unfortunate”, Regional Convener of the Fresh Water Action Network South Asia Ramsety Murali told bdnews24.com on Pakistan’s failure to attend the conference.
Murali, who is in Dhaka now for attending the conference, said a “strong commitment” of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal on the sanitation issue was imperative as those countries face “serious problems” related to open defecation and other challenges of urban sanitation.
“This is a perfect example of how inter-country sensitivities are affecting the development activities of the region,” he said. He said the Dhaka declaration can still be adopted, but Pakistan will remain out of the entire process.
Besides, he said, Pakistan was scheduled to host the next SACOSAN. And traditionally the baton of the next conference is passed at a ceremony at the end of the conference. “This year this formal ceremony will not happen,” he said, “It’s going to threaten the continuity of SACOSAN”.
The conference chairperson Islam, however, did not see any threat.
“I don’t think there is any threat for the next conference,” he said, when asked.
His Indian counterpart seconded his comment at the press briefing.
“In no way will this (Pakistan’s absence) affect the sanitation issue”, G Balasubramanian, deputy adviser of Swachh Bharat Mission under Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, said.
He also said that Pakistan had confirmed a 60-member delegation before.
This conference, with the theme “better sanitation better life”, comes just after the beginning of the new Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) era on Jan 1.
Balasubramanian said the conference had a positive impact on the South Asian countries.
He said the movement generated from the conference helped India increased its sanitation coverage.
International NGO WaterAid estimates that each $1 spent on sanitation can return $4 to a country, apart from reducing unwanted deaths due to diarrhoea and respiratory infections.
