SAARC CCI Convention of South Asian youths

Dhaka (PR)- Youths at a gathering yesterday expressed frustration over the degradation of moral standards in mainstream and student politics during the session “ what does it take to inspire?” during the opening day of LEAD 2012, a convention of South Asian youths chaired by Mr. Tariq Sayeed, immediate President of SAARC CCI  

Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) organised the two-day convention to motivate youths to be the pioneer of socio-economic change in the region.

Mani Shankar Aiyar, a former minister in Manmohan Singh's cabinet, who was one of the lead speaker of the session said inequality was on rise in South Asia despite economic growth, especially in India and Bangladesh adding that every Saarc state had an elected government but the galloping inequality might be a destabilising factor unless it was addressed.

Tofail Ahmed, Member Parliament of Bangladesh said nothing but fair politics had helped him become a leader and also a minister, although he had been at the grassroots level.

"Today, it is not necessary. If the top leadership wishes, you can be a minister," said the senior politician. If university authorities and the government decide to hold the elections, the situation will change,” he said, pinning some hopes. The veteran leader, however, said whatever was happening, the country had a bright future “if we can go forward by taking lessons from the past”.

Former president of SCCI Tariq Sayeed while concluding the session said Saarc countries should allow elections to students unions in the universities.

"We should have another forum for South Asian youths to discuss as to what they can do to improve relations among the countries of the region," he said.

More than 1500 hundreds of young people from Saarc countries, the majority being from Bangladesh, attended the event held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital.