Revival of SAARC must for free and prosperous South Asia

Roundtable on strengthening the SAARC held at the National Press Club on Sunday July 31.

A roundtable discussion on “Strengthening SAARC and the Role of the Bangladeshi Youth” organized by the South Asian Youth Research Center, Sunday, July 31 was held at Tafazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall, National Press Club, Dhaka. 

Mr. Nazrul Islam Khan, former ambassador and current member, National Standing Committee, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was present as the chief guest in the roundtable discussion. Mr. 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) Mr. Shakib Ali. The round table discussion was chaired by Suman Haque, Chairman, South Asian Youth Research Centre.

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. He commented that it is not the bigger issue of India’s withdrawal from SAARC or China’s inclusion. More important is to revive SAARC at the present time to give up all subservient mentalities of present Bangladesh government and to eliminate all hegemonic rule and exploitation in this region our government should give emphasis on establishing the relations with the SAARC states on the basis of equality and dignity.

In the keynote speech, former diplomat Mr. 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. He also said that SAARC has many achievements. But the Big-Brother-facilitated behavior of India, a member of SAARC, is overshadowing many of SAARC’s achievements. Currently, SAARC needs to be strengthened more in the post-Corona economic crisis period, especially in the frequent situation of disasters in South Asia.

Avoiding Indian hegemony, showing respect to each other culturally, politically, economically, awakening one’s sense of nationalism and respecting other's nationalism, the young society should believe in the philosophy of SAARC.

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. To break the Indian hegemonic mentality, the chain of negativity, there is no alternative to the education of the youth. We need to provide opportunities to our skilled workforce to work in SAARC countries. India should be transparent in facilitating higher education system including showing our TV channels in India.

Mr. 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. SAARC needs to be revitalized to establish multiculturalism.

The need for SAARC to break down the hegemonic mentality is essential to building harmony and a modern South Asia. – Press release