SAARC summit is a success, says Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the SAARC Summit in Nepal has been “very successful”.

Speaking at a meeting of Awami League Central Working Committee at Gonobhaban on Friday evening, she said: “The atmosphere there was nice. We all got chance to hold discussions among ourselves.”

The two-day summit ended on Thursday and the prime minister came back home at noon.

She said: “There is an elected government in every SAARC country (now). It makes a difference if there is an elected government (in a country).”

Hasina referred to the deal on a common electricity grid and adoption of 36-point Kathmandu Declaration.

Foreign ministers of the eight member states signed the framework agreement on energy cooperation in the concluding session.

The prime minister said: “(At the summit) we’ve given utmost priority to socioeconomic development of the people of this region.

She said seven other members of the grouping praised Bangladesh for setting example of development.

“Everyone acknowledged that Bangladesh’s advancement is exemplary.”

She thanked Nepal for its hospitality. “They (Nepal) held the summit in a very nice way.”

The prime minister spoke of the assistance incumbent Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala had extended to Bangladesh during the Liberation War in 1971.