Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus once again urged South Asian leaders to make the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) active for the benefit of people across the region.
“SAARC is very important to me. I emphasized the need to activate it right after I took my oath as Chief Adviser,” he said.
He made these remarks while addressing a conference of the SAARC Federation of Oncologists (SFO) via videoconference from the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka.
A delegation from the SFO also met with Chief Adviser Prof. Yunus at the Jamuna.
Prof. Yunus noted that revitalizing SAARC would benefit the entire South Asian region, which has been hindered by longstanding disputes between India and Pakistan.
“The problems between these two countries should not impact other nations in South Asia,” he said. “If South Asian leaders meet annually, stand united, and present themselves to the world, it sends a strong message of unity. This can portray South Asia positively on the global stage and help us progress together.”
During the meeting, the Chief Adviser paid tribute to the late Prof. Dr. ABMF Karim, the founder of the SFO, and shared his personal memories with him.
Prof. Yunus also spoke about his late younger brother, Muhammad Jahangir, a writer and television personality, and the challenges his family faced during Jahangir’s battle with cancer. He expressed gratitude to Dr. Karim for his assistance during that difficult time.
“We still lack the necessary technical support for cancer treatment. SAARC’s role in addressing this issue and supporting cancer patients is truly commendable,” he added.
