Staff Reporter:
Foreign Affair Adviser Md Touhid Hossain yesterday said Bangladesh anticipates a resolution to the on-going trade recession with India that has persisted over the past two to three months,
“The slowdown is impacting not just Bangladesh but also India. Traders in Kolkata are facing the brunt as well,” he said while addressing a discussion titled “SAARC: People of South Asia Crave for Coopera-tion,” held at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital.
Expressing optimism, Hossain added, “We hope the standoff will be resolved soon.”
The foreign adviser noted that Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is set to arrive in Dhaka today for Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between Bangladesh and India, where bilateral trade issues and oth-er matters of mutual concern are expected to be discussed.
“If we want to solve problems, we have to first acknowledge their existence,” Hossain remarked, em-phasizing the importance of frank dialogue between the neighbors.
He highlighted a qualitative shift in the Bangladesh-India relationship following the political changeover in Bangladesh on August 5.
The SAARC Journalist Forum, Bangladesh Chapter organised the seminar that brought together experts to discuss regional challenges and opportunities.
Turning to regional cooperation, the foreign adviser expressed hope for the resumption of SAARC For-eign Secretary-level meetings, which have been stalled for a decade.
He suggested that this could pave the way for Foreign Minister-level discussions and, eventually, a SAARC Summit.
“SAARC appears dead, but it should not be buried,” he said, referencing an Indian diplomat’s statement to underline the need for revitalizing the regional bloc.
The adviser underscored the importance of regional cooperation to boost trade, enhance economic growth, and alleviate poverty in South Asia, urging member states to overcome bilateral differences for the collective benefit of the region.
Touhid noted that the SAARC Summit has been stalled for 10 years, largely due to ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.
The foreign adviser laid emphasis on the necessity of regional cooperation to tackle common challenges.
