Bangladesh has called for a fresh start to SAARC, the South Asian regional group, saying it is time for neighbouring countries to work together on important issues such as trade, energy, and climate change.
Shama Obaed Islam, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, spoke at a seminar held at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in Dhaka. She explained that the group can help South Asia grow, but only if countries stop allowing political arguments to interfere with real work.
SAARC began in 1985, drawing heavily on the ideas of the late Bangladeshi President Ziaur Rahman. However, the group has been stuck for years. Big political disagreements, especially between India and Pakistan, have stopped top leaders from meeting.
Islam argued that these disagreements should not stop progress that helps everyday people. Since taking office four months ago, Bangladesh’s new government has been pushing a “Bangladesh First” policy. This policy focuses on making the neighbourhood safer, improving trade, and building better networks for food and energy.
To get around political roadblocks, Islam suggested a step-by-step plan. Instead of waiting for big political meetings, countries should focus on smaller, practical projects where everyone agrees. If a few countries are ready to work together on a project, they should be allowed to start, with the option for others to join later.
“The goal is to ensure that arguments between two countries do not freeze all teamwork in the region,” Islam said. She reminded everyone that the rules of SAARC already say that countries should not bring up personal political arguments during meetings.
For readers interested in development and energy, this teamwork is time-sensitive. South Asia faces massive challenges with climate change, floods, and energy shortages. Islam said that by upgrading the SAARC Development Fund, the region can finally fund big projects to improve farming, healthcare, and green energy.
Some experts wonder if SAARC is still needed since there is another regional group called BIMSTEC. Islam explained that they are not rivals. While BIMSTEC links South Asia to Southeast Asia, SAARC is still the only group that brings all of South Asia together.
The minister shared that she has spoken with representatives from every single SAARC country over the last four months. She noted that all of them gave highly positive feedback about bringing the group back to life.
To maintain momentum, Bangladesh is planning to meet with South Asian ambassadors in Dhaka and officials at the SAARC headquarters in Kathmandu. The goal is to set up a regular calendar of activities and get experts talking to each other again.
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