Terrorism and Regional Security concern was in the focal point of just concluded SAARC summit that was held in Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka. Again terrorism is going to be the lead issue in the upcoming summit of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) which is schedule for November 13 in New Delhi, the Indian Capital.
A news report published in Dhaka said that BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers will sit in New Delhi on August 29 for doing the groundwork for the 2nd summit of BIMSTEC. The meeting would discuss the issues of signing an Anti-terrorism arrangement, easing Visa administration, and setting up of permanent Secretariat and two different Centres on Climate and Energy, the report mentioned coating a source of Bangladesh Foreign Ministry.
In the meeting Foreign Ministers of BIMSTEC Nations will also discuss the possible cooperation from the Asian Development Bank especially for a wider regional connectivity. Before the Ministers meet, foreign secretaries and director generals of the region are schedule to sit on August 28 and August 26-27 respectively.
The 2nd summit of BIMSTEC, which is a group of 7 nations that are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, was earlier scheduled for February 2007, but was postponed upon Dhaka’s request in view of volatile political situation prevailing in Bangladesh then.
The report said quoting a Home Ministry official of Bangladesh that an agreement, styled ‘BIMSTEC convention on cooperation in combating international terrorism, organised crime and illicit drug trafficking,’ may be adopted by the BIMSTEC leaders to fight the cross-border terrorism through a united effort. The agreement was finalised in the BIMSTEC’s 4th sub-group meeting on law and legal enforcement issues in the Indian capital in April last year the report farther coated the Home Office official.
As of the report, the meeting will be more focused on security issues than environment, economic cooperation, and human development and many other social sector development issues. On the basis of this information it could be said that the regional organisations like SAARC and BIMSTEC are growing more political, but it is more logical to be more economical.
Earlier on 9th July of 2008, Chief Advisor of the interim government of Bangladesh urged at a ministerial meeting of BIMSTEC to consider the issues related to global warming, climate change, price hike of the essentials, poverty, and suggested to take measures for alleviation of poverty.
Chief Advisor said, while inaugurating the meeting that “If we take advantage of the experiences of member-countries in a concerted way, I think it is possible to have a far-reaching impact on poverty reduction and development. In this connection, the institutional framework of BIMSTEC member-countries may be devised for intensive and extensive research investigation, and ultimately development of programs incorporating events such as global warming and climate change. I also would ask that the ministers consider the impact of the recent increases in energy and food prices on poverty and suggest measures to address the same by member countries and also measures that the developed countries can and must take.”
As a matter of fact, terrorism and trans-border crime are the emerging challenges for the regions like SAARC and BIMSTEC. That is why the leaders of the nations emphasising on the issues related to the internal and regional security concerns. But it should not be forgotten that these regions are resided by millions of poor, who need the attention of state leaders for the uplift of their living conditions. It should not be forgotten that finally all activities of a state are to make the conditions better for the people. As of that spirit, SAARC and BIMSTEC should be more attentive and caring in human development and security concern simultaneously.
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