Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh interim government, during an interview to PTI.
| Photo Credit: PTI

There should be a revival of the “spirit of SAARC,” Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh’s interim government has said, underlining that the eight-member bloc can solve many of the region’s problems.

In an interview with PTI at his official residence in Dhaka, Chief Adviser Yunus said that although the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was formed with a great cause, it now exists only on paper and is not functioning.

The regional grouping comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Mr. Yunus mentioned that he would try to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session scheduled to be held later this month.

He also mentioned that he will try to get the heads of state of SAARC nations together for a photo op.

“Obviously, we will try to meet [Prime Minister Narendra Modi]. I will try if all the heads of state of SAARC nations come together and take a photo. SAARC was formed for a great cause; it now exists only on paper and is not functioning. We have forgotten the name of SAARC; I am trying to revive the spirit of SAARC,” he said.

Prime Minister Modi is likely to address the high-level UN General Assembly session on September 26, according to a provisional list of speakers issued by the UN.

The high-level General Debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly will take place from September 24-30.

“The SAARC summit has not taken place for quite a long time. If we come together, a lot of problems will be resolved,” Mr. Yunus said.

Nepal has been making efforts to activate the regional grouping, which has not been very effective since 2016.

The 2016 SAARC Summit was to be held in Islamabad. But after the terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 that year, India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to “prevailing circumstances”.

The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the Islamabad meet.

The Nobel laureate noted that although the European Union, which was formed along similar lines as SAARC, has achieved a lot through mutual cooperation, SAARC has yet to achieve the same.

“The European countries have achieved a lot through the European Union. We have to ensure that SAARC works. Look at the European Union, and how brilliantly it works. If there is a problem regarding Pakistan, other ways can be worked out. But the functioning of SAARC must not stop,” he said.

The SAARC has not been very effective since 2016, as its biennial summits have not taken place since the last one in Kathmandu in 2014.

Speaking on the issue of the Rohingya influx in Bangladesh, Yunus said he would seek help from India to convince Myanmar to take back its population.

Mr. Yunus also said Dhaka needs the help of both India and China to manage the crisis.

“We need the help of India and China to resolve the issue. Nearly one million people have come to Bangladesh, and now this population is growing. It is putting tremendous pressure on Bangladesh’s economy. Some countries are taking them but in small numbers. As India shares good relations with Myanmar, we need India’s help in convincing Myanmar to take them back,” he said.

Over one million Rohingya fled to Bangladesh in 2017 after a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, described by the UN and others as ethnic cleansing, and now live in overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazar—among the world’s largest and most densely populated—with little hope of returning to Myanmar, where they are largely denied citizenship and basic rights.

Dhaka:

A key adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government on Monday said that deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s extended stay in India will not hurt bilateral relations and Dhaka will always try to maintain good relations with New Delhi.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain made the remarks when asked whether bilateral ties with India would be affected if Ms Hasina’s stay in India gets prolonged.

“This is a hypothetical question. If someone stays in a country why the relations with that particular country would be affected? There is no reason for that,” he said, emphasising that bilateral relations are a big matter.

Ms Hasina, 76, resigned and fled to India last week following widespread protests against her government over a controversial quota system in jobs.

Mr Hossain said bilateral relations are a relation of interest and friendship is also of interest. “Friendship does not exist if the interest is hurt.” He said the two sides – Bangladesh and India – have interests and they will follow those interests. Mr Hossain said the relationship between the two countries “is not influenced by the presence of one individual in a country” while “India has its interests, and Bangladesh has its interests”.

The adviser said they will “always try to maintain good relations” with India.

Earlier, he briefed the diplomats stationed in Dhaka, including Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma, on the situation in Bangladesh and sought their support.

“We believe that all our friends and partners in the international community would continue to stand by the interim government and our people as we embark on charting a new future for Bangladesh,” Mr Hossain told the diplomats.

Mr Hossain, a career diplomat and former foreign secretary, reaffirmed that Bangladesh was committed to upholding all agreements made with other countries.

The adviser accused the Awami League regime of committing gross human rights violations in its attempts to suppress a popular movement eventually resulting in its ouster.

“However, the sheer power of people ultimately led to the fall of all authoritarian regimes,” Hossain said, adding that Bangladesh had experienced a “second liberation” last week driven by a mass uprising led by “our courageous students”.

The adviser said the interim government was committed to meeting the renewed expectations of the people and expressed confidence that the international community would continue to support the interim government and the people of Bangladesh as they work towards a new future.

“Bangladesh is on the brink of a new beginning,” he said.

The adviser informed the diplomats that the government has taken quick and decisive measures to restore law and order and bring back normalcy across the country.

Representatives from all diplomatic missions in Dhaka, including UN agencies, attended the briefing while they inquired about security measures, the Rohingya issue, and the current situation.

“We can assure that the safety and security of the diplomatic and consular premises and persons will remain one of our core priorities,” Hossain said, adding the interim government remained sensitized to the need to ensure the protection of all foreign citizens.

Mr Hossain said that the government would remain focused on a smooth transition to “inclusive and pluralistic electoral democracy as soon as possible”.

During his first press briefing at the foreign ministry on Sunday, Mr Hossain was asked about the possibility of bringing home Ms Hasina. He replied that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the law ministry while his office would respond only if that ministry makes any such request.

“Our policy is to maintain good relations with all countries while protecting our national interests,” said Mr Hossain, whose position is equivalent to a minister’s.

“We intend to maintain smooth and positive relations with all … including India and China,” said Hossain, who previously served as a deputy high commissioner to India.

When asked about the interim government’s approach towards India, Mr Hossain said both countries share a strong and deep bond.

“(But) it is important that people feel India is a good friend of Bangladesh…We want that, we want to advance the (Dhaka-Delhi) relation towards that direction,” he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)