Small countries should prefer multilateralism to bilateralism
In bilateral dealings, the interest of small countries may not be protected, they added.
They, however, expressed concern over the crisis in global multilateralism, as the international body like United Nations (UN) is dominated by the conservatives. As a result, the democratic institutions are not functioning well, the speakers said.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. They pointed out that the United Nations has been burdened with security related issues and it is ignoring the matters of global human rights.
Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) organised the discussion titled 'Is Multilateralism in Crisis?" in Dhaka. CPD Chairman Prof Rehman Sobhan presided over the discussion.
The speakers also called for a code of conduct for big powers for maintaining stability in the world.
Delivering a keynote speech, David Malone, assistant deputy minister (global issues) of Canadian ministry of foreign affairs, said health sector was benefited most from multilateralism as many deadly diseases were eliminated from the world through multilateral approaches.
He observed although the military power becomes unilateral, the global economy is still competitive. He said the UN spent 50 years in signing treaties and conventions and now is the time to implement those.
Taking part in the discussion, Barrister Ziaur Rahman Khan, chairman of parliamentary standing committee on foreign affairs, observed that multilateralism should be reintroduced, as there is no balance of power in the present day world.
Former secretary Sheikh Maqsood Ali said the eastern countries were neglected by the West while dealing with global issues.
Debapriya Bhattacharya, executive director of CPD, said although Canada is one of the major economic powers, it does not take a leading role in global issues.
It shies away when crisis arises in a certain country or a region, he pointed out.
Syed Ashraful Islam MP, former foreign secretary Farooq Sobhan, and UNDP Resident Representative Reneta Dessallion also took part in the discussion.
Talking to The daily Star after the discussion, David Malone said he does not see any chance of US military invasion in Iran in near future.
"I do not think that Iran is going to be attacked very soon as lots of diplomatic efforts are yet to be taken," he said.