By NNN-BSS
Dhaka : A meeting of the Council of Advisers Wednesday approved a decision of accession of Bangladesh in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in South East Asia.
It will help strengthen country's 'look east policy' as well as relation with the ASEAN member countries.
Adviser for Foreign Affairs Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury is expected to sign the treaty in the Philippines on August 2. The Foreign Adviser will attend the ministerial level meeting of the Asian Regional Forum (ARF).
Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed chaired the meeting held at his office attended by the members of the Council of Advisers.
After the meeting, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim told the journalists that the Philippines, the present president of ARF has requested Bangladesh to sign the TAC.
Bangladesh after its continuous diplomatic efforts for last few years entered into the ARF, he added.
He said the TAC was signed in 1976 in Indonesia initially among five member states including Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, he added.
The meeting also witnessed a presentation on the Health Nutrition Population Sector Policy (HNPSP) by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The aim of the HNPSP, a Taka 32,446.40 crore project is to achieve the health related targets of Bangladesh in the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) by 2010.
The meeting has given some directives regarding HNPSP that included the tenure of the project director, which should be at least two to three years.
It asked all concerned to work sincerely to improve country's health service and infrastructure so that people can get the maximum service.