Bangladesh News

Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury yesterday said Major (retd) Mohiuddin, the condemned killer of Bangabandhu, will be brought back to the country very soon.

“We don’t have any information that suggests that Mohiuddin’s deportation has become uncertain… We don’t perceive any impediment,” he told a press briefing at the foreign ministry.

At the briefing, DG Nazmul Kawnain said the Bangladesh mission in Washington and the consulate in Los Angeles maintain constant touch with the US Homeland Security and the State Department about the deportation of Mohiuddin.

He said the government is likely to get updates on the matter next week.

On Iran’s proposal to become Saarc observer, the foreign affairs adviser said, “We’re looking at Iran’s proposal positively. The Saarc Council of Ministers will take the decision on it.”

Asked if there is any pressure for not granting observer status to Iran because of Tehran-Washington nuclear row, he said in diplomacy there is the possibility of pressure tactics but “here we don’t see any reflection of that.”

Iftekhar Chowdhury said: “We’re favourably disposed towards it. We consider Iran as an active member in the international scene.”

He, however, said the Saarc takes decision on the basis of consensus. If any member state raises objection, it will not be possible.

At Delhi summit, Afghanistan will join as eighth member of the Saarc. Afghanistan was given full membership of the regional forum at the 13th summit in Dhaka in 2005.

Besides, US, China, Japan, South Korea and European Union will participate in the 14th Saarc summit as observers. The countries will be represented at the ministerial level.

Asked if Saarc will lose its South Asian character with the induction of so many observers, the foreign adviser said there are different schools of thought. Some say Saarc may face pressure from observers, but some others say Saarc is making some kind of impact on the global scene.

He said the observers will not have any role in decision-making, which will be done by the eight member states. The observers could only make a statement reflecting their views on different issues. “I think, results will be positive since Saarc is a multi-national forum,” he added.

Explaining Bangladesh’s position on the Delhi summit, the adviser said: “We want to push forward the Saarc activities towards development by formulating plans for eradicating poverty, for the empowerment of women and in education and health sectors including HIV/bird flue.

Besides, Dhaka will focus on how to combat adverse impact of global warming in the region and propose to set up Saarc youth camp in Bangladesh for greater interaction among the youth community.

The theme of the 14th summit is connectivity, he said, adding that the summit will also finalise the Regional Food Bank and Saarc Development Fund to implement projects in poverty alleviation, agriculture, education and health sectors.

Asked about Dhaka’s stand on India’s proposal for transit under the theme of connectivity, the adviser said bilateral issues should not come under the consideration of Saarc. There are set mechanisms to deal with bilateral issues.