Dhaka backs Commonwealth’s transformation to meet expectations

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali has underscored the need for transforming the Commonwealth so that it can effectively respond to evolving international realities and expectations of its developing member states.

"The world has changed. .....the expectations from Commonwealth have also undergone evolution," the Foreign Minister said, adding, "....the approach, priorities and orientations of Commonwealth have not."

He was speaking at a Commonwealth Dinner Panel titled "Re-imagining the Commonwealth for the 21st Century" at the three-day Raisina Dialogue concluding in New Delhi on Thursday night.

It came ahead of the 25th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting - CHOGM 2018 - to be hosted by the UK in April this year, reports UNB.

Bangladesh re-imagines a Commonwealth that would promote drivers of development such as regular migration...good governance, infrastructure and connectivity projects and women empowerment," Mahmood Ali said.

The Commonwealth, he said, "can do its best in facilitating preferential and free trade arrangements."

It can also help vulnerable countries like Bangladesh with assistance, capacity building, expertise and technology transfer for their climate change adaptation and mitigation projects.

He urged the Commonwealth to intensify its work in the areas of human security, ocean economy, education, health, conservation and development of sustainable resources.

Mahmood Ali called for a "fundamental change in the structure and orientation" of the Commonwealth and readjustment of the role and function of its bodies, according to Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.

"We are happy that this has started in a small scale with the restructuring of the Commonwealth Secretariat undertaken by Secretary General Patricia Scotland."

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali was present at the discussion.