Regional cooperation vital to eliminate poverty

MJ Akbar, editor of Delhi-based The Sunday Guardian and chairman of Covert Magazine, speaks at the 13th convocation of Independent University, Bangladesh at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city yesterday.Photo: STAR

Regional cooperation is vital to eliminate poverty from the South Asian nations, said veteran Indian journalist and noted author MJ Akbar yesterday.
“If poverty cannot be eliminated from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan in the next 30 to 40 years, then we are failed,” said Akbar, editor of Delhi-based The Sunday Guardian and chairman of Covert Magazine.
He said this while talking to The Daily Star on the sidelines of the 13th convocation of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) 2009 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city.
“Poverty elimination will be more difficult without regional cooperation. That is why regional cooperation is vital,” said Akbar, adding: “Don't forget... we work for equals… not that India is big and you are small. That does not matter. If equality is the foundation, the relationship will right go on and on.”
There should be more shared economic development among the South Asian nations, he said. “Only sentiments don't work. You have to see practical benefits.”
Stating that the India-Bangladesh relationship got a new strength with the recent prime minister-level summit, the veteran journalist said the close rapport between the two countries needs to be maintained to gain better results.
As the convocation speaker, Akbar said poverty on this part of the world is at shameful level, which is regrettable. “I sometimes think why the poor allow the cars to ply on the streets, what do we give them?”
Calling on the IUB graduates not to forget the disadvantaged groups in society, Akbar, also a former member of the parliament, said education is not an exercise of selfishness, but of sharing in capabilities to contribute to equitable development.
It is not education if someone being a graduate forgets the values and the disadvantaged groups, he told the graduating students.
Improved quality of politics, gender equality and secularism are the other elements the states must have to be modern, Akbar added.
IUB Vice Chancellor Prof Bazlul Mobin Chowdhury said the university prepares not only dynamic professionals, but imparts the values of life as well as the society.
The VC called on the graduates to contribute to social development.
A total of 660 graduates were conferred degrees on the occasion.
Naomi Ahmed was selected as a valedictorian while Lamyea Bintea Ali, Sharmin Mahbub, Md Azmal Hossain and SM Kaiser Ali received chancellor's gold medals for their outstanding academic results.
IUB Pro-VC Prof Omar Rahman, Governing Council Chairman Towhid Samad and Chairman of Education, Science, Technology and Cultural Development Trust Abdul Hafiz Chowdhury also spoke.