Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies
Challenges and Ways Forward"
The Bangladesh Institute of
International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised a Roundtable Discussion
titled “SAARC Nearing 50: Challenges and Way Forward” on Tuesday, 03
December 2024, at the BIISS Auditorium.
The roundtable examined the
evolution of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
as it approaches its fiftieth anniversary and assessed the opportunities and
challenges facing regional cooperation in South Asia. Discussions focused on
the current state of SAARC, regional connectivity, economic integration, trade
and investment, climate change, human security, and the organisation’s role in
addressing emerging geopolitical and development challenges.
The event brought together
policymakers, diplomats, academicians, researchers, government officials, and
eminent scholars, who exchanged views on the future of regional cooperation and
explored pathways for revitalising SAARC. Participants highlighted the
importance of strengthening political dialogue, fostering mutual trust,
enhancing institutional effectiveness, and promoting practical cooperation in
areas of shared interest to unlock the region’s collective potential.
The discussion concluded with a
consensus that reinvigorating SAARC through sustained political commitment and
constructive regional engagement would contribute to peace, stability, economic
prosperity, and sustainable development across South Asia.