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Dhaka preparing concept paper on sub-regional grouping

By M Anwarul Haq
The government is preparing a concept paper on sub-regional co-operation among Bangladesh. India. Nepal and Bhutan, spelling out the framework and objectives of the proposed idea, diplomatic sources said here yesterday.
The paper will be placed at a specially convened meeting of foreign secretaries of the four countries.
The meeting is likely to take place in Kathmandu sometime in March for launching the idea on sub-regional co-operation on 'more concrete terms" Foreign Ministry sources added.
The Foreign secretaries' meeting is likely to be followed •by a -meeting-Of the Foreign'
Ministers of Bangladesh. Bhutan. India and Nepal, the sources further indicated.
The concept paper will aim at identifying the areas of co-
operation between the four countries. The paper will also aim at exploring the possibilities of undertaking some steps under a common platform to address some identical problems confronting the countries.
The issues may include the problems of illegal trafficking of women and children, cross-border trade and smuggling. However, the thrust area of the co-operation must be combating insurgency and terrorism in the region.
Although harnessing of water resources is seen as a crucial area, this may take a back seat at the formative stage of the sub-regional concept, diplomatic-sourcesadd«P----~^'-----
The concept paper will also address common concerns like environmental degradation and river management.
Talking to The Daily Star
yesterday a high official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the idea of sub-re-Sional co-operation was first oated by Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad at the SAARC Foreign Ministers Conference held in New Delhi In December last. Foreign Secretary of Nepal Kedar Bhakta Srestha also delivered an approach paper" at the Standing Committee meet during the SAARC summit.
The official informed that the idea was generally welcomed by the four countries but the summary of conclusions of the SAARC Foreign Ministers
istan at that time.
The official said that the idea of sub-regional grouping was manifested in Article 7 of
the SAARC Charter where it Is mentioned that the SAARC Standing Committee may set up Action Committees of member countries, concerning implementation of projects Involving more than two countries but not all the states of the SAARC regional organisation.