News Desk :
A roundtable discussion on “Strengthening SAARC and the Role of the Bangladeshi Youth” organized by the South Asian Youth Research Center was held at Tafazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Sunday.
Nazrul Islam Khan, former ambassador and current member, National Standing Committee, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was present as the chief guest at the roundtable discussion.
Zahir Uddin Swapan, eminent politician and former Member of Parliament, Bangladesh and Security Analyst Colonel (Retd) Ashraf Al Din were present as honorable discussants.
The key note paper in the discussion was presented by the former diplomat and D. G. (Europe) Shakib Ali. The round table discussion was chaired by Suman Haque, Chairman, South Asian Youth Research Centre.
In the speech of the chief guest, Nazrul Islam Khan said that Bangladeshi youth should not be pro-Indian or anti-Indian in the formation of a strong SAARC. “We have to be real Bangladeshis. Communication, cultural exchange between SAARC countries should be increased. India has often obstructed the realization of SAARC as a political institution in the region for its own interests. For the sake of a prosperous South Asia, the youth should think about SAARC and increase communication between the youth of other SAARC countries.”
In the keynote speech, former diplomat Saqib Ali said that SAARC should be revived for the sake of a prosperous and non-dominated South Asia. South Asia needs SAARC to build its own identity. Just as Europe is bringing itself under one umbrella by establishing the European Union and informing the whole world by establishing its rights, South Asian people of more or less the same culture, politics, and economic trend should be brought under the same umbrella of SAARC.
“But it has been seen several times that India in its hegemonic mindset only weakens SAARC for its own needs.
India talks about its need for economic growth, development of communication system but India has not supported Bangladesh-Nepal communication infrastructure within the SAARC region. Within the framework of SAARC, administrative functions should be carried out by politicians instead of bureaucratic appointments.”
Security analyst Colonel (retd) Ashraf Al Din said that SAARC states cannot talk to each other about bilateral issues. India creates obstructions here. When it comes to talking about the rights of Kashmiris, India blocks it. Bangladeshi youth should be aware of their own self-identity, nationalism, and Bangladesh should wake up against subservient policies. The youth must be educated. SAARC culture must psychologically contain the youth.
Zahir Uddin Swapan, as an honorable discussant, said that the seeds of communalism that the ruling party is sowing in India are not only harming India but also other SAARC countries. “Strengthening SAARC is necessary to overcome this dire situation and to get rid of the political culture of hatred.”
