Diplomatic Correspondent
Dhaka has urged Saarc secretary general to pursue regional cooperation on the issue of common rivers, since Bangladesh suffers badly for insufficient water during dry season.
The call was made by State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam when Arjun Bahadur Thapa, the newly appointed secretary general of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), called on him on Sunday.
The state minister also insisted on regional cooperation in the hydropower sector among Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan, according to a foreign ministry press release yesterday.
In response, Thapa assured him of his best efforts to pursue the issues during his tenure.
They also discussed on various sectors of regional cooperation which include poverty alleviation, trade, hydropower, connectivity and climate change.
The state minister congratulated Thapa on his assumption of office as new secretary general, and assured him of Bangladesh government’s fullest support during his tenure.
Thapa thanked Bangladesh government for supporting him during his appointment procedure and recalled with satisfaction the contributions of Bangladesh to the Saarc process as one of its founding members.
This was Thapa’s first visit to Bangladesh since his assumption of office as Saarc secretary general on March 1.
He came to Dhaka to attend the second meeting of Saarc cabinet secretaries at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel on April 26-27.
Source : Daily Star
