KATHMANDU: The 18th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit beginning on November 26 has already formulated various multi-dimensional approaches to enhance the regional connectivity that never surfaced so far since its inception.
Meanwhile the Nepalese capital has wore a new look and has been decorated colorfully bringing an end to the habitual load shedding problems.
Nepal government has declared two days’ holiday for SAARC summit.
The SAARC summit has created a sense of pleasure and satisfaction among all sections of people of the country. This enthusiasm was expressed by a university teacher Saur Punith.
On November 21 evening, Saur told banglanews that Nepal has been passing a restless time. Though monarchism has diminished still the people could not reap the results of democracy as our leaders are yet to frame a constitution for the country.
He further said the leaders are busier in political activities than development. At this moment, the SAARC summit has appeared as a festival for us.
The whole Kathmandu city has become brightened than before.
The roads are looking glittered. Shops, hotels and other establishments have also become brighter with illumination. The security arrangements have also been beefed up. The hotels are providing concessions in connection with the summit. The hotels are busy in handling foreign guests.
The Nepal government had focused on cleaning the city. About five thousand beggars have been driven out of the capital.
The SAARC secretariat and the embassies of the member countries are busy for the summit.
The preceding meetings of SAARC Summit started on Saturday giving priorities to multidimensional connectivity. With the 49th meeting of the Programming Committee (PC) beginning from Saturday, the 18th SAARC summit will end on November 27.
Heads of the states or governments of eight member countries will attend the last two days of the summit. Nepal is ready to receive the seven visiting VVIPs.
However, the delegates of the member countries have already reached Kathmandu to take part in the PC meeting. The 41st meetings of Standing Committee comprising the foreign secretaries will be held on November 23-24. The 36th meeting of the Council of Ministers will be held on November 25.
Director General (SAARC & BIMSTEC) Abdul Motaleb Sarker has been leading an eight-member Bangladesh delegation in the PC meeting.
The Standing Committee meeting will be attended by foreign secretary Shahidul Haque while foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali will attend the meeting of Council of Ministers.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend the Summit meetings of November 26- 27.
The SAARC secretariat and the foreign ministers informed the media that the upcoming summit is giving importance to enhance the multidimensional connectivity.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali talked about signing of two crucial deals including SAARC Motor Vehicle Agreements and SAARC Regional Railways Agreement.
The agreements will allow the free movement of cargo, passenger and personal vehicles across member states.
Taxes will be taken for motor vehicles while a unified ticket system would be adopted for trains that would ply across the region.
Besides, another agreement is expected to be signed about power.
The member countries will decide on traffic volume through mutual negotiations, apart from fees and charges to be levied at entry points. Routes for road connectivity are yet to be finalized.
The country through which the vehicles to move will set these charges, which will have to be paid in the local currency. The authorized officers of the country can inspect and search transiting vehicles, according to the draft of the agreement.
Besides, there might be an agreement of SAARC energy cooperation.
The foreign ministry officials further informed the media that before implementing the motor vehicle movement, every member country shall have to reach an understanding about route for transit, immigration and custom station. A separate protocol will be required for that. However this can be done on bi-lateral basis.
On bi-lateral basis, India has such kind of agreement with Nepal and Bhutan.
Under the existing agreement Indian goods laden trucks can go to Nepal and Bhutan. As there is no agreement with Bangladesh, Bhutanese and Nepalese trucks come upto Burimari land port of Bangladesh using Indian territory.
Nepal authorities are giving last touch to finish its preparation for the upcoming summit. The media booth working condition at Hotel Radisson is yet to be active. However everything will be ready before the summit, said Nepal foreign ministry officials.
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an economic and geopolitical organisation of eight countries — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The idea of regional political and economic cooperation in South Asian countries was first raised in 1980 and the first summit was held in Dhaka on December 8, 1985, when the organisation was established by the governments of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Since then the organisation has been expanded by accepting one new full member, Afghanistan and several observer members.
Currently, the official meetings of the SAARC leaders are being held bi-annually though it was said to be held annually. The foreign ministers of the region meet twice in a year.
The 17th SAARC Summit was held at Addu of Maldives on November 10-11 of 2011.
BDST: 1427 HRS, NOV 22, 2014
