By BSS,
Dhaka, Bangladesh : Adviser for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh caretaker government Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said the increase in criminal activities in the region are a matter of concern for all of us as they have the potential to disrupt peace and stability.
In his opening remarks at the 10th BIMSTEC ministerial meeting in New Delhi Dr Iftekhar said Bangladesh is committed to deal with these issues firmly and decisively, according to a message received here from India.
He said, “We are heartened at the finalization of BIMSTEC Convention on Combating International Terrorism Transnational Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking.”
This instrument, he said, will be an important tool at the disposal of member states and would strengthen our hands in dealing with these menaces effectively.
Dr Iftekhar said, a continued focus on poverty alleviation and in a larger context the broad area of social development is of paramount importance and the Group must accord highest
priority to this area.
Bangladesh, he said, was privileged to host the First BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on Poverty Alleviation in July last.
He said the impact of rising food prices and food shortages is worst felt by the rural population.
In this regard he stressed the need to develop strategic action plan to increase agricultural productivity in the short, medium and long term. In SAARC, he said, we have set up a Food
Bank to meet urgent need adding the establishment of a similar mechanism under BIMSTEC may be considered.
He said, “Our common ambition is to attain regional integration by exploiting the synergies that exist in our countries. Free Trade Agreement is one such measure that holds the promise to increase intra- regional trade.”
Dr Iftekhar said, “I understand the negotiation on a BIMSTEC FTA has been going on quite sometime now. While we expected the FTA to be concluded and come into effect by July 2006, it is yet to be finalized. It is important that we approach the issue with a greater sense of urgency, and demonstrate flexibility and accommodation to conclude the Agreement without delay.”
In this context, he said, Bangladesh has withheld announcing a date for next BIMSTEC Trade Ministers Meeting pending the outcome and finalization of the draft FTA. He urged the Trade
Negotiation Committee to conclude their negotiations at their next meeting.
BIMSTEC FTA, he said, would be a more meaningful instrument in contributing towards increasing intra-regional trade if we are able to remove and dismantle all tariff and non- tariff barriers.
Equally important would be to put in place appropriate trade facilitations measures, he said adding the Sectoral Committee dealing with trade facilitation issues would come up with
concrete action plan.
Bangladesh, he said, attaches high importance to connectivity in the region as it believes to facilitate movement of goods and people across the region.
The BIMSTEC Transport Infrastructure and Logistic and Study (BTILS) which has just been concluded, provides useful insight into the existing weaknesses in transport infrastructure in the member states, he said.
The foreign adviser while reiterating Bangladesh’s commitment to the goals and objectives of the organization offered to host the Permanent Secretariat of BIMSTEC in Dhaka.