Focus on poverty cut

The upcoming South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit should also reflect the common people's hopes and aspirations, they said.

They also suggested creating a scope for the political leaders from outside the government and the civil society members to participate in different forums of the summit.

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The Campaign for Good Governance, an NGO, organised the roundtable on 'Saarc summit and civil society: sovereignty, friendship and poverty reduction in South Asia' in the city.

The discussants said the Saarc is such a potential forum that it could change the fate of 130 crore people living in this region.

The Saarc states should emphasise the regional interests rather than the national ones, they said.

They suggested that the forum should also take steps to ensure the people's right to know.

Mostafizur Rahman presented the objectives of the roundtable while Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Mahbubur Rahaman, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on defence, Lt. Col. (Rtd.) Faruque Khan, whip of the opposition party, Brig. Gen. (Rtd.) Sakhawat Hossain, Dr Kholiquzzaman Ahmed, Dr Abul Kalam Azad, Farida Akhter and Rokeya Kabir took part in the discussion.

Dr Tofail Ahmed, advisor of the Campaign for Good Governance, conducted the session.

Mahbubur Rahman said many border-related problems could be resolved through discussion at the summit. "If we all give priority to the regional interest, the Saarc would be a very effective forum."

He also called for utilisation of human resources of the region under a coordinated plan.

Sakhawat Hossain said that the thoughts of the common people were never reflected in the Saarc summit. If the governments cannot resolve the prevailing problems by discussing those at regional forums like Saarc, its motto will be failed, he added.

Faruque Khan said that the past history of the Saarc was not very successful and the member countries did not get anything out of it. Dr Kholiquzzaman said, "We can identify specific problems regarding river water and other environmental aspects and also can find out solutions through the summit."

Rasheda K Chowdhury said the South Asian governments should take up a joint initiative to reduce the illiteracy in the region where 45 percent of the world's illiterate people live in this region.

Dr Tofail Ahmed proposed that the Saarc charter should be reviewed.