Saarc Secretary General Meets PM
Hasina for bolstering regional cooperation
Secretary General of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) Fatimath Dhiyana Saeed pays a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister's Office in the city yesterday. Photo: PID
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday emphasised bolstering regional cooperation in South Asia for building it as a prosperous and peaceful region. Hasina made the remarks when visiting Secretary General of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) Fatimath Dhiyana Saeed paid a courtesy call on her at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in the morning. She expressed the hope that the Saarc countries would join a partnership for promoting democracy, democratic practice and the rule of law in South Asia. The PM said Saarc is considered as a catalyst for regional cooperation as well as sustainable development and social progress for all the people of the region. Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said the Saarc secretary general apprised Hasina of the preparation of the upcoming Saarc summit to be held in the Maldives. Fatimath lauded the leadership of Hasina and her role in upholding democratic rights of people. In this regard, the Saarc official mentioned the Charter of Democracy presented by Hasina at the last Saarc summit held in Thimphu, Bhutan. Ambassador At-Large M Ziauddin, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister MA Karim, PMO Secretary Molla Waheeduzzaman and Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad were present. MYANMAR ENVOY MEETS PM Meanwhile, Hasina stressed that the developing countries need to intensify their individual and collective efforts for closer economic relations with each other for their rapid progress. She said this when Ambassador of Myanmar to Bangladesh U Min Lwin paid a courtesy call on her at the PMO in the morning. The PM and the Myanmar Ambassador discussed various issues of bilateral and international development, Azad told reporters after the meeting. Congratulating the Myanmar government for their successful holding of the general election o November 7, 2010, she hoped that Myanmar would be able to establish a democratic government soon as per its constitution and in line with the promised roadmap to democracy. She stressed increased exchange of visits at various levels between the two neighbouring countries to strengthen the existing cooperation and explore new avenues of works for development. Hasina also underscored the importance of establishing direct air, road and rail links for easy movement of commodities between the two countries at a reasonable cost. She also called for enhancing bilateral trade and commerce between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
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