State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Monday called for revitalising the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), saying the regional bloc and BIMSTEC should complement rather than compete with each other.
Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled "Rebuilding Trust, Renewing Regional Integration: Pathways for Revitalising SAARC," organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), she said sub-regional initiatives should strengthen, not weaken, South Asian regional cooperation.
"SAARC and BIMSTEC are different platforms. Sub-regional initiatives should not drain momentum away from SAARC; rather, they should become building blocks for wider regional cooperation," she said.
Shama Obaed said Bangladesh's approach to SAARC is both "hopeful and realistic", acknowledging that the organisation cannot return to full political normalcy overnight. However, she rejected the notion that the bloc had become irrelevant.
"Much can be done if the agenda is realistic, technical and people-centred," she said, adding that SAARC should focus on practical cooperation rather than allow bilateral political disputes to stall regional initiatives.
She stressed that the objective should not be to force political dialogue between member states but to ensure that bilateral tensions do not paralyse regional cooperation. At the same time, she said, SAARC must remain an inclusive platform for all South Asian countries.
Highlighting the relationship between SAARC and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), the state minister said the two organisations serve different purposes. While BIMSTEC connects South Asia with the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia, SAARC represents the broader South Asian regional identity, including countries outside BIMSTEC.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, she said, Bangladesh supports both organisations because each serves the country's interests in connectivity, stability, prosperity and development.
As an initial step towards reviving SAARC, Shama Obaed proposed keeping the organisation at an "optimal functional level" until conditions become conducive for a full political revival.
She said this would involve regular technical and official meetings, a predictable calendar of activities, stronger regional institutions and greater cooperation in areas where member states can reach consensus. She also advocated flexible, project-based cooperation among willing members, while keeping the door open for others to join later.
The state minister said she had separately discussed SAARC's future with representatives of all member states since the new government assumed office and found them positive about its revival.
"Now it's time to turn that intent into action," she said, adding that Bangladesh remains committed to preserving and strengthening the regional body.
Former ambassador Tariq A. Karim, who delivered the keynote address, said SAARC already has the institutional framework but lacks the political consensus needed to function effectively. He also underscored the importance of energy security, saying both political will and adequate resources are essential for revitalising the regional organisation.
The seminar was attended by senior government officials, diplomats, academics, researchers, representatives of regional organisations and members of the media.
