Resource sharing may greatly cut regional poverty

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Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said Bangladesh firmly believes that sharing of resources among the Saarc member countries can help remove poverty from this region.

Majority of the world population living below the poverty line are in South Asia, he said when outgoing Secretary General of Saarc Lyonpo Chenkyab Dorji made a farewell call on him at his office.

Dorji said Bangladesh has been playing a major role in promoting the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc).

Expressing gratitude to Bangladesh government’s support in discharging his duties, the Saarc secretary general said most of his tenure was during the period of Bangladesh’s Saarc chairmanship.

Dorji said Bangladesh has successfully hosted three Saarc summits since its inception. “Bangladesh is the only country which carried out most of the Saarc activities, including holding of 14 ministerial meetings out of 42, which demonstrates the country’s commitment to the regional forum.”

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin who attended the 14th Saarc Summit held in New Delhi said the 14th summit has focused on addressing four major areas — water, power, energy and climate change.

He appreciated the contribution of Chenkyab Dorji as Saarc secretary general and termed his tenure as successful and productive, said CA’s Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim who was present at the meeting.

Referring to the progress of the forum, Dorji informed that Mauritius and Australia have applied for Saarc observer status.

He also said the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and Japan have shown interest in funding the Saarc.

Dorji said Saarc Secretariat has taken initiatives for an orientation programme to make new Saarc members like Afghanistan familiarise with the Saarc process.

He said Saarc observer countries Japan, China and South Korea also want to participate in the forum’s activities.

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