Staff Correspondent :
The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organized a Roundtable on
“SAARC Nearing 50: Challenges and Way Forward” on 03 December 2024. The event was graced
by H E Md Golan Sarwar, Secretary General SAARC, who attended as the Guest of Honour.
Ambassador AFM Gousal Azam Sarker, Chairman of BIISS, chaired the event, and Major General
Iftekhar Anis, BSP, awc, afwc, psc, Peng, Director General of BIISS, delivered the Welcome
Remarks.
Dr Razia Sultana, Senior Research Fellow, BIISS, made a presentation on “SAARC Nearing 50:
Strengthening Regional Unity for a Brighter Future”. Md Shamsul Haque, Former Additional
Foreign Secretary (SAARC & BIMSTEC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered his presentation on
“Way Forward to Revitalising SAARC: Outlining the Direction”. Afterward, an open discussion
session was held and participated by relevant experts on regional and sub-regional cooperation and
SAARC. The resource persons had their valuable opinions, comments, suggestions, and
observations during the open discussion session.
Finally, the Guest of Honour of the Roundtable discussion, H E Md Golan Sarwar, Secretary
General, SAARC, delivered his insightful speech and highlighted SAARC’s significance as a
regional forum for the betterment of the people of South Asia. He briefed current activities of
SAARC, its Regional Centres and Specialised Bodies. In this context, he pointed out that despite
the establishment of several other sub-regional forums after SAARC, none had attained even half
of SAARC’s accomplishments. Therefore, he emphasised the necessity of prioritising SAARC and
consistently promoting its significance for the well-being of the people in the region.
