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Visa-free movement, food security to dominate People's Saarc

Staff Correspondent
Bangladeshi representatives, now preparing to attend the Peoples' Saarc-2008 starting on July 18 in Sri Lanka, will raise their voices for visa-free movement of people of this region, food security and right to natural resources.
This was declared at a national consultation on the 'Peoples’ Saarc 2008 ’ organised by the National Organising Committee (NOC) atWVA auditorium in the city'yesterday.
NGO officials, trade union leaders and civil society members exchanged their views on the issues to be highlighted in the forum from July 18 to
July 20 where such groups from all the South Asian nations will share common concerns of people that are often ignored by the states. Peoples' Saarc is an occasion held on the sideline of the Saarc summit.
Nari Pragati Sangha Executive Director Rokeya Kabir, who is also coordinator of the NOC of Peoples’ Saarc-2008, said, "We want a visa-free regime in South Asia to make sure that every’ person of this region gets employed and enjoys every rights they are entitled."
There should be a food bank and no restrictions of food import or export among Saarc countries, she added.
Speakers at the consultation observed that Saarc, which could help develop the region tremendously by regional cooperation on economic and social issues, has been very slow in its progress.
While millions of people of the region suffer from malnutrition, poverty and insecurityof life, multinational companies have been reigning in the region. The states have not been paying much heed to these issue putting peoples' lives at risk, they added.
Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra President Nurul Islam said, “We should concentrate more on regional cooperation in the unipolar world"
“Peace is crucial for development. Therefore, we should move against terrorism. For a free society, we should establish accountable democracy," he said, adding that these are the common issues that could be taken up in the Peoples'Saarc.
Other issues to be highlighted in the forum include deneuclearisation. democracy, environmental and social justice, women rights and right to natural resources.
Human rights activist Dr Hameeda Hossain, Ubinig Executive Director Farida Akhter, Dhaka University Prof flashed Titumir and Mohiuddin Ahmed of Community Development Library also spoke.