Monday, 25 August, 2025
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Sunday called the revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) a “top priority” for Bangladesh, signalling a renewed effort to restore regional cooperation nearly four decades after the organisation was launched at the initiative of late President Ziaur Rahman.
Speaking at a meeting with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at the State Guest House Jamuna, Prof Yunus underscored the need to revitalise all avenues of collaboration—bilateral, cultural, and regional—at a time when South Asia faces growing economic, political, and security challenges.
“I encourage SAARC, and I see our relationship with Pakistan and other SAARC countries as one of the highest priorities,” Dr Yunus said, stressing youth exchanges and people-to-people connections as the foundation of stronger regional ties.
Dar, the first Pakistani foreign minister to visit Bangladesh in 13 years, conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and described the economies of Pakistan and Bangladesh as complementary, with “many areas where we can work together.”
He also announced plans to boost connectivity, including new shipping routes and direct air links by October, while praising Prof Yunus’ leadership in poverty alleviation and global development.
Both leaders expressed optimism that enhanced trade, cultural exchanges, and youth engagement could inject new momentum into SAARC, which has been largely dormant for nearly a decade.
Established in 1985 with Ziaur Rahman as one of its principal architects, SAARC was envisioned as a platform to foster peace, stability, and economic cooperation among its eight members.
While the body has achieved some success in cultural cooperation and disaster management, it has failed to deliver deeper economic integration or political unity.
The chief obstacle has long been the rivalry between India and Pakistan, which has repeatedly stalled summits and paralysed joint initiatives. India has also shifted its focus to alternative forums such as BIMSTEC, linking South and Southeast Asia, as SAARC’s paralysis deepens.
By reviving Ziaur Rahman’s original vision, Prof Yunus is attempting to position Bangladesh as a bridge-builder in the region. His emphasis on youth, culture, and people-to-people ties highlights a softer approach to regional diplomacy, in contrast to the hard political disputes that have long held SAARC hostage.
Whether this effort gains traction will depend not only on Dhaka and Islamabad but also on New Delhi’s willingness to re-engage.
For now, Yunus’ call to revitalise SAARC offers a reminder that South Asia’s promise of collective growth and stability, imagined in Dhaka in the 1980s, still hangs in the balance.
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Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Sunday called the revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) a “top priority” for Bangladesh, signalling a renewed effort to restore regional cooperation nearly four decades after the organisation was launched at the initiative of late President Ziaur Rahman.
Speaking at a meeting with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at the State Guest House Jamuna, Prof Yunus underscored the need to revitalise all avenues of collaboration—bilateral, cultural, and regional—at a time when South Asia faces growing economic, political, and security challenges.
“I encourage SAARC, and I see our relationship with Pakistan and other SAARC countries as one of the highest priorities,” Dr Yunus said, stressing youth exchanges and people-to-people connections as the foundation of stronger regional ties.
Dar, the first Pakistani foreign minister to visit Bangladesh in 13 years, conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and described the economies of Pakistan and Bangladesh as complementary, with “many areas where we can work together.”
He also announced plans to boost connectivity, including new shipping routes and direct air links by October, while praising Prof Yunus’ leadership in poverty alleviation and global development.
Both leaders expressed optimism that enhanced trade, cultural exchanges, and youth engagement could inject new momentum into SAARC, which has been largely dormant for nearly a decade.
Established in 1985 with Ziaur Rahman as one of its principal architects, SAARC was envisioned as a platform to foster peace, stability, and economic cooperation among its eight members.
While the body has achieved some success in cultural cooperation and disaster management, it has failed to deliver deeper economic integration or political unity.
The chief obstacle has long been the rivalry between India and Pakistan, which has repeatedly stalled summits and paralysed joint initiatives. India has also shifted its focus to alternative forums such as BIMSTEC, linking South and Southeast Asia, as SAARC’s paralysis deepens.
By reviving Ziaur Rahman’s original vision, Prof Yunus is attempting to position Bangladesh as a bridge-builder in the region. His emphasis on youth, culture, and people-to-people ties highlights a softer approach to regional diplomacy, in contrast to the hard political disputes that have long held SAARC hostage.
Whether this effort gains traction will depend not only on Dhaka and Islamabad but also on New Delhi’s willingness to re-engage.
For now, Yunus’ call to revitalise SAARC offers a reminder that South Asia’s promise of collective growth and stability, imagined in Dhaka in the 1980s, still hangs in the balance.
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