SAARC states must step up cooperation, says Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday stressed on enhancing mutual cooperation and assistance among the SAARC member states in Science and Technology to improve the people’s living standard in the region.
“The first and main objective of SAARC Charter is to ensure people’s welfare and improve their living standards. Attaining the goal is possible through increasing active mutual cooperation and assistance in economic, social, cultural, science and technology sectors,” the Prime Minister said addressing the inaugural session of the two-day SAARC Seminar 2009 at Sheraton Hotel.
Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni and State Minister also spoke at the function chaired by Science and ICT Architect Yeafesh Osman.
Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad, Health Minister Dr AFM Ruhul Haque, Adviser to the Prime Minister HT Imam, Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof. Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique and Press Secretary to Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad and foreign diplomats were present.
Scientists and academics from the SAARC member countries joined the seminar to identify issues and problems as well as set priorities for research and development, and to evolve pragmatic resolutions and recommendations for the common benefit of the people.
As most South Asian countries are facing power deficit, Sheikh Hasina emphasised on concentrating on nuclear power generation as an alternative to fulfil the growing demand of electricity in the country and said the present government is continuing its efforts in this regard.
The Prime Minister said combined efforts will have to be taken to expedite prosperity and development of the SAARC region.
‘The fact is that South Asia’s advancement is not taking place at our desired level though resources and prospects in this region are not less by any count. While, we are noticing that ASEAN, NAFTA and other regional bodies have made remarkable progress. We also have to take combined efforts to accelerate the region’s prosperity and development,” she said.
Referring to three articles-Current Good Manufacturing Practices in Pharmaceutical Sector, Radiation Processing, and Insects Resistant Crop Variety for Sustainable Agriculture-to be presented at the Seminar, the Prime Minister hoped the outcome of the seminar will help the SAARC countries improving socio-economic condition of the 140 crore people of the region.
“We have made election pledge to turn Bangladesh into a digital country by 2021. The government is allocating special grants to research institutions as well as special fellowships have been arranged for scientists to inspire research in science and technology. Special allocation was also made in the proposed 2009-10 budget,” she said.
Hasina said the SAARC countries will have to be linked with the process of modernisation in the present era of globalisation and the natural and human resources to be enriched. She observed that information and communication technology play a key role in communication, trade and business, educational management and administration and all other sectors of socio-economic development.
Besides, information and communication technology can play an important role in poverty eradication through creating huge employment opportunities, Hasina said.
About the country’s promising pharmaceutical sector, she said this sector is contributing a lot to the national economy and hoped that the seminar will help identify existing obstacles in the pharmaceutical sector and remove those through effective solution.
On Radiation Processing, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission has been conducting research works for the last three decades as peaceful use of the technology has immense prospects in improving various development sectors.
She hoped that the SAARC seminar will be helpful to find out common solution to the existing problems facing the agriculture sector in the SAARC region.
Hasina said production in the agriculture sector and food availability are increasing day by day as Bangladesh Rice Research Institution (BRRI), Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council, Fisheries Research Institute and other government and non-government agriculture research institutions have been playing successful role in their research works.
The Prime Minister expressed her government’s strong support towards the SAARC saying that all the SAARC member countries need to create more solidarity among themselves and work more closely on the basis of priority to reach the benefits of the regional forum to the common people.
“I expect SAARC acts as an effective agency to establish peace among the people of South Asia,” she said.

Courtesy of The Independent