Bimstec summit-2004

By ABM Shafiqul Islam, Dept of English, Jahangirnagar University
10 August 2004, 18:00 PM
Bimstec summit, a south and south-east Asian Forum, has ended with the Bangkok declaration of mutual co-operation, free trade and endless combat against widespread terrorism. The Thai prime minister formally inaugurated the summit in the presence of all the premiers of the governments of this region and expressed his firm and ardent determination to remove all obstacles that may come across its path. Being the head of the government, our prime minister also took a solid stance to make the forum a time befitting one. In her address, she urged all and sundry to come forward and show a cooperative attitude. She emphasised the free trade policy, high level meeting among the countries, direct road link for early transportation, and the duty free access of the goods of less developed countries. Her clarion call is reverberated everywhere as she showed her earnestness about the forum. She also had some bilateral talks with the Indian prime minister, the Thai prime minister and Myanmar head of the state. Economic stabilisation was one of the main focal points. The Bangkok declaration seems to be the photocopy of Bangladesh PM's speech. Most of the things that she proposed were accepted in this declaration.

If the summit is continued, it will become a strong forum for south south-east Asian region. We are looking forward to implementation of the commitments made during the summit.