Dhaka will seek to render SAARC into people's organization: Dr Iftekhar

DHAKA, Bangladesh, July 29 (BSS)- Adviser for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh caretaker government Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury today said that Bangladesh would make best efforts to render the organisation into a people's SAARC.

"We will make best efforts to render the organisation into a people's SAARC," he made this remark on the eve of his departure for Colombo where he will be leading the Bangladesh delegation tothe ministerial component of the SAARC Summit.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed will lead the Bangladeshdelegation at the Summit.

"At this Summit, we will address the crucial issues of the day -- food, energy, trade and climate change -- among otherthings," the foreign adviser said.

"On each of these issues Bangladesh will have significant points to make. At this point we are in the final phases of ourpreparatory process," he added.

"For us it is a welcome decision that the headquarters of the South Asian Regional Standards Organisation (SARSO) will be located in Dhaka. I shall also be signing the South Asian Development Fund Agreement which will be an important instrument bringing visible, tangible, and concrete benefits to the peoplesof the member states," Dr Iftekhar said.

"Our delegation which is already there has also informed me that we may be in the final stages of negotiating convention onMutual Loyal Assistance on Criminal Matters," he added.

"In today's world regional organisations in every part of the world are proving successful in improving the quality of the lives of their peoples. Europe and South East Asia are excellentexamples," the foreign adviser said.

"It is time to take SAARC forward towards that goal, particularly at this age which is seeing the dawning of the newAsian era," he added.