Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 22: A tri-nation Forum of Bangladesh, Pakistan and India is organizing a peace and solidarity conference in Jammu on March 27.
Addressing a press conference here today, senior vice president of the Bangladesh Bharat Pakistan People’s Forum, Sheikh Abdul Rehman (Ex-MP) disclosed that during previous conference held at Kolkata it was decided by the Forum members from all the three countries to organize next conference in March in the Jammu and Kashmir.
Mr Rehman disclosed that 12 delegates from Bangladesh including secretary General Moeenuddin Khan Badal (Ex-MP) and 10-member delegation from Pakistan is arriving here. He said that Pakistani members were still awaiting Visa and it is hoped that the same will be cleared within next couple of days. The one day conference on peace and cooperation in the region will be held at Youth Hostel, Nagrota near Jammu.
“Founded in 2005, the prime objective of the BBPP Forum is to create friendly and peaceful environment between the three nations by conducting peace and solidarity talks, conferences and seminars involving Parliamen-tarians, educationists, scholars, thinkers, advocates, social and political activists, impressing upon them to shun the path of mutual distrust and diplomatic animosity and create an atmosphere of peace, friendly and good neighbourly relationships to promote trade, bilateral relations soften visa restrictions enabling displaced families to contact,” Rehamn said.
The Ex-MP said that J&K State has remained a bone of contention between India and Pakistan as a result they fought four conflicts taking huge toll on both the sides besides loss to property and displacement of large number of families. These three nations earlier used to be one nation. “Unfortunately we are as of now three nations on the foundation of huge bloodshed, leaving behind very bitter feeling and taste. In the process we fell prey to certain forces like US, China and Russia to their markets in accumulating weapons of mass destructions procuring F-16, MIGs, Jaguars, Sukhois at the cost of hunger, poverty, unemployment, illiteracy. In case, peace prevails in the region, this huge expenditure can be diverted to the welfare of poor people of these nations.
We strive for free visa in three nations and one currency on the pattern of European Union,” Mr Rehman added.