Md. Abdur Rahman
Secretary General
SAARC Journalists Forum (Central Committee)
Kathmandu, Nepal.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a regional alliance of South Asian states Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Increasing inter-regional cooperation It is very urgent at this moment to reorganize or speed up the South Asian Regional Cooperation Organization (SAARC), which was formed for the economic and social development of the countries in the region.

In the late 70s, the South Asian nations of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka agreed to create a trade bloc and provide a platform for the people of the region.

It should be noted that the former president of Bangladesh, Shahid Ziaur Rahman, was the dreamer of the establishment of SAARC.

In 1979, the then president of Bangladesh, Shahid Ziaur Rahman, took the initiative to form a regional cooperation organization in the South Asian region. In May 1980, he presented a formal proposal of Bangladesh to the governments and heads of state of 7 South Asian countries.

The heads of state and government of seven South Asian countries responded to this proposal after overcoming initial hesitation. At the First Conference of Foreign Secretaries of South Asian States held in Colombo from 21 to 23 April 1981, some necessary steps were taken to form the desired organization. Then in August 1983, the foreign ministers of the seven countries of the region met in Delhi for their first formal meeting.

In this meeting, the cabinet adopted a program called Integrated Program of Action (IPA). Under this programme, nine areas have been identified for carrying out various tasks as a means of cooperation among the SAARC countries. Then on 7-8 December 1985, the official organizational structure of SAARC (SAARC- South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) or South Asian Regional Cooperation Organization was approved and its journey began.

Revival of the stagnant SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) regional alliance is essential for the development and dynamism of South Asia. Despite South Asia being one of the most populous and economically promising regions in the world, SAARC’s ineffectiveness and political conflicts are hampering the region’s prospects.

Now is the time to reactivate this alliance so that South Asian countries can work together in mutual trade, communication, education, health, technology and other important areas. Through this, it will be possible to make an important contribution not only to regional stability, but also to the global economy.

Recently Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Prof. Dr. Yunus has called for SAARC’s restructuring or dynamism.

The head of the Interim Government of Bangladesh and the Nobel Peace Prize laureate said that the spirit of the South Asian Regional Cooperation Organization (SAARC) needs to be revived. Muhammad Yunus. He said in a press release, this alliance of eight nations can solve many regional problems. Although SAARC was established with a noble purpose, it is now limited to paper and is not functioning now.

Despite South Asia’s diverse culture, large population and growing economic potential, SAARC has not effectively achieved its goals.Reasons for SAARC stagnation:
Political conflict:
The long-term conflict between India and Pakistan, in particular, has hampered SAARC operations the most. Complete development of SAARC is not possible without solving the problem between these two countries.

Internal Challenges: Every country in South Asia faces internal political, social, and economic challenges. Due to this, it was not possible for them to give full attention to the activities of SAARC.

Economic and Trade Barriers:
One of SAARC’s main goals is to increase trade, but there are many barriers to cross-border trade and communication between member countries. Trade barriers remain due to the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) not being fully implemented.

Circumstances of Rejuvenation:
Regional Stability and Prosperity: South Asian countries working together will enhance regional prosperity and stability. By eliminating military and political conflicts, member countries can achieve regional security, peace and progress.

Increase in trade and investment:
If trade barriers within SAARC can be removed and free trade opportunities are created among member countries, the regional economy will improve greatly. Besides, it is possible to increase connectivity between countries by improving infrastructure and transportation systems.

Social Development:
Through SAARC, member countries can develop through mutual cooperation in various social sectors including education, health, technology, environment and climate change. A large part of the population of South Asia is still poor, and it is necessary to work together to solve these problems.

Global Introduction:
If SAARC is strengthened, it will be able to represent South Asia more effectively on the international stage. It will help enhance global trade and diplomatic relations among member countries.

Next steps:
Peaceful dialogue between India and Pakistan: To make SAARC dynamic, political issues between India and Pakistan need to be resolved first. Cooperation between these two countries is the key to the progress of SAARC.

Reducing trade barriers:
Member countries should work together to facilitate cross-border trade and implement free trade agreements. Through this it will be possible to increase economic coordination.

Internal Reinforcement:
Member countries should strive to solve their internal social and economic problems so that they can participate fully in regional cooperation.

SAARC must be reactivated to ensure economic development and regional peace in South Asia. In this regard, the political deadlock between the member states should be removed and effective measures should be taken in trade, communication, and other economic and social areas through mutual cooperation. This will make South Asia more dynamic, which will help SAARC achieve its core goals.

Need to revive SAARC:
The following steps can be taken to reactivate and reactivate the CIRC:

Breaking the political deadlock: Diplomatic initiatives should be taken to resolve the long-standing issues between India and Pakistan. Implementation of SAARC will be difficult without resolution of these conflicts.

Trade Enhancing Initiatives:
SAARC should be developed into an effective trading alliance by removing trade barriers among member countries. Initiatives should be taken to facilitate infrastructure, logistics, and tariffs to expand trade.

Increased Interconnection:
Regional trade and cooperation should be enhanced by increasing rail, road and sea connectivity between member countries. Along with this, cooperation in the field of electricity and energy should also be increased.

Technology and Innovation:
South Asian member countries need to invest in technological cooperation and innovative projects, which can give a new dimension to the economy of the region.

Cooperation with other regional alliances: SAARC should enhance cooperation with other regional alliances such as BIMSTEC and ASEAN, so that development work can be coordinated.

The revival and activation of SAARC is important not only in terms of regional trade and economy, but also in maintaining political stability and security.

Conclusion:
The revival of SAARC is important not only from a regional but also from a global perspective. The collective progress of South Asian countries can lead the people of the region to new horizons of development. Now is the time to harness SAARC with renewed vigor to transform South Asia into a united, peaceful and prosperous region.

SAARC journalist forum
Kathmandu-Nepal.
www.sarcjournalistforum.org
Email: circularlistforum@gmail.com

Kathmandu. Raju Lama, International President of SAARC Journalist Forum, participated in the Summit of Future Action Days on 79th General Assembly of the United Nations representing the journalists of SAARC countries. The General Assembly has concluded on September 30, 2024 at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

President Lama has participated in the Summit for Future Action Days which is a part of 79th General Assembly held at the United Nations headquarters in New York on September 20 and 21 and he informed about the situation of South Asian journalists, their experiences, human rights and the role they played in peacekeeping in the region.

He participated actively in the ‘Sideline Meeting’ held at that time, in the group discussion, and informed about the journalists and journalism in the SAARC region and the role played by the SAARC Journalist Forum to establish peace in the region, protect democracy and human rights.

UN Secretary General António Guterres and head of state of different countries has addressed the meeting of the General Assembly. SAARC Journalist Forum is an international organization established to protect the rights of South Asian journalists. Its headquarters is located in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Dhaka. The Bangladesh Chapter of SAARC Journalist Forum has been formed with Nasir Al Mamoon of the Daily Ajkal as its President and Shiabur Rahman of The Financial Express as General Secretary.

The committee was constituted at a meeting held on Saturday afternoon at the National Press Club in Dhaka with Abdur Rahman, Central Secretary General of SAARC Journalist Forum, in the chair, said a press release.Other office bearers are Vice-presidents Asif Hasan Nabi (Ajker Probhat) and Shariful Islam (Janakantha), Joint General Secretary Shahed Matiur Rahman (Nayadiganta), Treasurer Reza Mahmud (New Nation) and Executive Member Rafiqul Islam Azad (Daily Industry), Mohd Jahangir Alam (UNB), MA Noman (NTV), Rashed Ahmed (New Age) and Md. Mustafa Khan (Ittefaq).

The meeting decided to hold a seminar on the future of SAARC and emphasized the need for forging close communication among journalists in the region.

New Delhi. The Training & Placement Cell of Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Management Studies organised a Guest Lecture on “Insights on Journalism” on 27th August 2024. The Guest for the event was Mr. Raju Lama, President, SAARC Journalist Forum, Editor, Times Asian.Dr. Nand Kishore Garg, founder chairman and chief adviser at MAIMS, extended a warm welcome to the guest by presenting him with a sapling and a commemorative memento. These tokens of appreciation were given in recognition of the guest’s valuable time and insightful contribution to the students’ understanding of journalism. Mr. Raju Lama delivered a comprehensive briefing on Journalism to BA (JMC) students, offering an in-depth exploration of the field. The session aimed to provide a thorough understanding of Journalism, covering its core principles, current challenges, and the dynamic changes within the media landscape.
Mr. Lama highlighted the relationship of India and Nepal and its current Journalistic trends in SAARC Countries. He provided a detailed overview of how journalism is evolving in these regions, discussing the impact of digital media, issues related to press freedom, and the influence of political and cultural factors. His analysis offered students valuable insights into the common challenges faced by journalists across these countries and the strategies being employed to address them. Additionally, Mr. Lama discussed the special opportunities and challenges that journalists encounter when working across borders. His insights helped students see how local issues connect with global journalism trends, giving them a clearer view of the media’s role in our interconnected world. The event was brought to its fruition by a Vote of Thanks from Dr. Umesh C. Pathak, Head, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication and a group photograph with Mr. Raju Lama, Faculty members and students.

New Delhi. SAARC Journalist Forum International President Raju Lama and SAARC Journalist Forum India Chapter President Sudhanshu Anirudh visited Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University Delhi and have a meeting. They met Dr. Kamal Pathak Registrar of Guru Govind Singh Indraprastha University, Prof. Varun Joshi, Dean of University School of Environment Management, Prof. Vijita Agrawal, Director Directorate of International Affairs, Prof. Shilpa Jain Associate Director, Directorate of International Affairs, Nalini Ranjan Singh, Public Relation officer. In the Meeting SAARC Journalist Forum and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University discussed and agreed to organise an exchange programme and visits of journalist from India and Nepal. Nepali student’s also interacted to the delegates during the programme. “We apeal the Journalists of SJF to let the people and students of Nepal to know about the University. We want more and more intake of students from Nepal to our University. We have a good and great infrastructure in every school and department,” Registrar Dr. Pathak said. He also expressed his views on  experienced and skilled faculty members and said University will provide a student’s friendly environment for over all developments. Prof. Vijita Agrawal, Director Directorate of International Affairs of University also expressed and raised the concern of foreign students in University. She said that the students of Nepal are precious like Indian students.

Kathmandu. SAARC Journalist Forum condemn against the attack on the media office of East West Media Group in Bangladesh. SAARC Journalist Forum President Raju Lama and Secretary General Md Abdur Rahman released press statement against the attack on media in Bangladesh.

“We Strongly condemn and protest the attack by miscreants on the media office of a leading media group in Bangladesh. We are shocked and concerned about the attack on the media office of East West Media Group. Such attacks have made the journalistic community panic.The media is not anyone’s opponent, the job of the media is to publish objective news,” stated in statement. SAARC Journalist Forum said We demand that the attackers be immediately identified and brought under the law, besides, a humble call was made to all concerned, including the interim government, to ensure the safety of journalists and workers of all levels of the media in Bangladesh. Such attacks on media offices are antithetical to independent journalism. Let the whole world be a safe place for media & journalists.

New Delhi. SAARC Journalist Forum held a meeting with Prof. KK Aggrawal, President of South Asian University in New Delhi. A delegation led by SAARC Journalist Forum President Raju Lama met the President of South Asian University. During the meeting their talks were concern on educational system and interest of South Asian University in the region. “South Asian University is established for welfare and promote educational exchanges between South Asian nations so we need support of SAARC Journalist Forum to explore our objectives in the region,” Professor Aggrawal said who is the president of University. Forum’s President Raju Lama assured his support and cooperation during talks. Delegation led by Lama has visited several parts of University and it’s activities with curriculum. University has felicitated the members of delegation after the talks. Smita Mishra, Anirudha Sudhanshu, Rudra Subedi, Md. Arif Ansari, OP Yadav along with other members of SAARC Journalist Forum were present in the meeting.

New Delhi. SAARC Journalist Forum India Chapter has honored journalists of different south asian countries from historical “First Yugal Kishor Shukla International Journalist Award 2023.” Celebrating function of cenetenary celebration of historical poet and literature of India Ram Darash Mishra himself has honored journalists of south asia from “First Yugal Kishor International Journalist Award 2023.” International President of SAARC Journalist Forum Raju Lama from Nepal, Executive Member of SAARC Journalist Forum Smita Mishra, Convener of SAARC Journalist Forum Nepal Chapter Rudra Subedi and Convener of SAARC Journalist Forum Maharashtra Anil Sable have been honored from “First Yugal Kishore Shukla International Journalist Award.” Award has been named from first journalist of India Yugal Kishore Shukla and it was established by SAARC Journalist Forum India Chapter. India Chapter President Anirudha Sudhanshu has announced this award for year 2023. He said Raju Lama and Rudra Subedi from Nepal, Smita Mishra and Anil Sable from India has been honored from First Yugal Kishor Shukla International Journalist Award due to their contribution for journalists and journalism in international era for more than two decades. SAARC Journalist Forum India Chapter also honored as “Special Appreciation Award” to journalists of Nepal Md. Arif Ansari, Sibendra Bhandari, Azmat Ali Siddique and Ramesh Chandra Kumal for their contribution and activities to journalists and journalism. Likewise, Ram Darash Mishra Trust has honored “Ram Darash Mishra Srijan Satabdi Award” to youth poet Raj Kumar Shrestha.

Kathmandu. SAARC Journalist Forum urge to play creative role to all stakeholders and international community for peaceful Bangladesh. SAARC Journalist Forum President Raju Lama and Secretary General Md Abdur Rahman released press statement and call on all stakeholders and international community to play a creative role on this crucial stage of Bangladesh.

“SAARC Journalist Forum call on all stakeholders of Bangladesh to maintain peace and stability. SJF urge all political parties, civil societies, students unions, journalists to play an crucial role to maintaining peace and tranquility in the country,” said in statement.“SAARC Journalist Forum want to honour those who sacrificed their lives for the cause of peace and stability in the country and look forward for peaceful and prosperity Bangladesh,” said in statement released by SAARC Journalist Forum.
SAARC Journalist Forum further urge all stakeholders and international community to play a creative role to come out Bangladesh from this hard situation.

SJF strongly protests against the attack on Bangladeshi journalists as many have been killed, injured and tortured due to the movement of students. SJF also demand concern authority of Bangladesh to pay attention on the security of journalists.

Kathmandu. SAARC Journalist Forum, an international organization of South Asian journalists, is now one of the leading journalist organizations in the world working with journalists and media.

SAARC Journalist Forum is the leading global community of Journalist. It does so by identifying innovation and trends, tools and best practices.

SAARC Journalist Forum share this intelligence through the blog, newsletter, meetings, networking events, conferences and research.

Today SAARC Journalist Forum central committee President Raju Lama attend online conference with USA based Reporters Shield & they talk about international Journalist problem and cooperation.