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Ex-FM Prof Shamsul Huq says

Sub-regional grouping won't harm SAARC
National Professor M Shamsul Huq yesterday said the proposed sub regional grouping — comprising Bangladesh. Bhutan. Nepal and the eastern states of India — would do no harm to the sevennation SAARC. reports BSS.
"1 don't think the formation of sub-regional group would vitiate the functioning of SAARC." he said
A former foreign minister during the tenure of President Ziaur Rahman Prof Huq was replying to queries after he had delivered a lecture on
"Bangladesh foreign policy: Reflection of its evolution" at Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BUSS) In Ure city.
The elderly academician said the sub regional grouping "should not be seen as compatible with regional or international organisations like SAARC and others." Such grouping could have positive impact not only on political matters, but also on the spheres of economic activities, he added Prof Huq. also a former chairman of BUSS, expressed his optimism that the proposed business summit next month would be successful and help evolve a greater exchange and cooperation among the three countries.
Prof Haq. who dwelt on the country's foreign policy dating back early seventies, said. "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's decision to attend OIC summit in Pakistan in 1974 was a remarkable event.’’
"I was not associate with the thinking process at that time and actually not aware of what happ< >cd, but I think the Indians realised Bangladesh position." he said in reply to an--"Esa,. Ahmed, a former adviser under the caretaker Sovernment of Justice Sha-
abuddin Ahmed, who was present during the talks, said: "There was no consul'ation with the Indian' fore Bangladesh decided to tar.e part
in the OIC summit in Islamabad."
Ahmed, then foreign secretary. said the Indians were told of the matter after the decision was taken to attend the summit.
To a question on the prospects of a peace agreement to end years of hostilities in Chittagong Hili Tracts. Prof Huq refrained from making any comment, but said: "Let us wait and see.'
He. however, said one thing had been made clear by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that troops would not be withdrawn from the hill tracts once accord was signed.
During his hour-long talk. Prof Huq said the success of a foreign policy depends pre-eminently on the strength of its foundation, and added that no foreign policy could be stronger than the inner strength of a nation. National unity and consensus on national Issues form 'he cornerstone of this founda-on. he said.
P'r' Huq r lerlined the im-per. ve new >f resolve the domestic conllict that des the nation, making it weaker internally. Major internal conflicts — political, economic and others — be identified and removed quickly, he suggested.
He said. “The crucial role Blayed by India during the Bangladesh) war of independence and India's security gains from the emergence of independent Bangladesh" are "solid grounds" for building a stable friendship between the two neighbours and resolving the outstanding problems.
Earlier. Brig Muhammad Shahedul Anam Khan. Director General of BUSS, in his address of welcome said it was the third programme in a series of lectures on the country's foreign policy.