Honorable chief guest, special guest and prsesent other dignitaries, accept my greetings and felicitations to all you. I have the pleasaure to state that a delegate of journalists has arived here from neighbouring Nepal. To get an opportunity to exchange pleasantries and views with the respectable guests from Nepal is really encouraging. Let me have an opportunity to introduce Bangladesh to you in few words. It is the month of December, the month of victory. After nine months of sanguinary battle with the Pakistani forces we have got an independent Bangladesh. At the clarion call Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman people from all strata took up arms against the then occupation forces. There is no denying the fact that Bangabandhu is the proclaimer of our independence. But the strongest weapon against the ocupation forces was the mighty pen of journalists at home and abroad. Journalists all around the world created opinion in favour of our freedom from the slavery from Pakistani ruler. Journalists across the world carried pictures and details about the repression on the unarmed peace loving people of Bangladesh. We are indebted today to the valiant journalists who revealed the real scene of Pakistani repression and our legitimate right of freedom.
Nepal is our friendly county and also a member of SAARC. I think free movement of journalists between the two countries will strengthen the idiologies of SAARC. It will also make our relation with Nepal stronger. Journalist from both the countries can open a new vista for peaceful co-existence; enhance trade and commerce and upkeep cultural tradition. Like NATO, WHO, WARSW South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation can offer a strong organisation in south Asia. The recent unrest in Myanmar about pushing of Muslims in Bangladesh can be solved with the help of south Asian countries though Myanmar is not a SAARC member. Recent Indo-Pakistan border tension, unbridled corruption in SAARC countries, massive environment pollution, climate change and global warming all over the world and trafficking of women and children, inflow of narcotics must be stopped. The rise of militancy and terrorism in the name of Islam hinders all the development activities. SAARC members can play a vital role in this respect. We are aware that bitter relation is continuing among some SAARC countries. This bitterness must be wiped out to make the SAARC region a better place to live in. SAARC came into being in 1980 with a hope to build a better south Asia. It ’s aim was friendship towards all and malice to none. If Nepal and Bangladesh take initiative we can find SAARC a success in the global map. Journalists have a very vital role to play in this connection. Since we are now in the association of some honourable journalist guests from Nepal I would like to state that a permanent system must be for us so that Journalists from our land can pay a visit to Nepal and thus pave the way for free access of journalists between the two friendly countries. Ultimately we want to widen our horizon of thought and culture with the help of the assertive pen of journalists not in Bangladesh and Nepal but all the states in SAARC. Under the leadership of present Prime Minister Sheikh Hashina Bangladesh is turning to a middle income country. Shajib Wajed Joy, the Information Technology Advisor to Prime Minister has improved the flow of information and technology all over the country. Under the inspiration of the present government we want to improve our friendly ties within our scope and range of resources. We want to make a permanent friendly tie with the journlists of Nepal so that we can meet them at regular interval. The world has become a smaller place because of the rapid improvement of science and technology at home and abroad. Finally I convey my thanks to all concerned who have arranged this pleasant and significant program. Thank you all.
S M Morshed
Genarel Secratary
Saptahik Potrika Porisad
01911-385970
