Sheikh Hasinas vision of South Asia
In her speech at Indian Economic Summit at New Delhi Friday Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina uttered some valuable words that not only give the audience a vision of happy and prosperous South Asia but also offer four principles following which this goal can be achieved. She rightly underscored the need of mutual trust and respect among all communities and countries of South Asian region. She pertinently pointed out that for achieving this aim it is necessary to overcome misperceptions and false apprehensions.
South Asian countries face almost similar problems such as poverty, lack of education and health facilities as well as terrorism. A large segment of population in this part of the globe remains stuck in backwardness and superstitions. South Asian countries also have bilateral problems with each other which need to be solved amicably.
She obliquely referred to the failure of SAARC as regional body when she said, In the past decades, weve seen many lofty regional ideas and initiatives. Some succeeded, others could not deliver. For ensuring regional cooperation and development, her suggestion for managing geo-political realities through friendship and collaboration is worth paying attention to. Sheikh Hasina unequivocally confirmed that Bangladesh can ensure the much needed regional cooperation through regional bodies such as Bimstec, Saarc, BBIN and BCIM. The first among the four principles for developing the region is protection of rights of each individual. She said, We must strive to secure peace, stability and harmony, for every individual across our societies. We must move beyond the majority minority mindset. Then she pointed out the need of embracing pluralism which is a strength of South Asia for centuries.
Diverse people with their differences in religion, ethnicity and language live in this region. In other words, creating a monolithic society in an individual country would disregard the rights of others and such a path should effectively be shunned. The third principle is about mutual trust and mutual respect between all communities and countries. Finally, there are the unique geo-political realities of South Asia which Sheikh Hasina suggested should be managed by friendship and collaboration. Her forceful assertion that countries here cannot trade off long-term interests for short-term gains should be taken as a caution as this can jeopardize the advancement of the region.
