Social Welfare Advisor Sharmin S. Murshid said that Bangladesh will maintain warm relations with the neighboring countries based on equity, justice and impartiality as the interim government of Professor Dr Mohammed Yunus has called upon the South Asian countries to revive the South Asian Association of Regional Countries (SAARC) with a view to building a progress and prosperous south Asia.

She was speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled “dynamics of relationship with neighbors in post-Bangladesh student revolution under the prevailing regional geopolitical conditions,“ organised by the monthly Diplomat magazine at the Foreign Service Academy in the city on Thursday.

Terming South Asia as the most disintegrated region in the world, Sharmin S. Murshid said that enhanced regional cooperation will certainly boost economic cooperation in the South Asian region.

She said the current interim government is the outcome of the supreme sacrifice of thousands of martyrs and the mass uprising of millions of people.

The Adviser said the interim government is committed to rebuild, repair and reconstruct the nation with the expectation of students as some 1000 lives have been lost and some 20,000 persons have been injured in the anti-discriminator student movement against the autocratic and fascist Sheikh Hasina.

She also expressed the hope that the political leaders and workers in Bangladesh  will understand  qualitative change in politics and qualitative change in their  behaviour .

"I would like to say that the country will be on the electoral roadmap along the path of reforms. So, let us all earn the trust and love of the people through work. We should stand by the people and keep them with us," she added.

"In return for the sacrifice of the students, we got an opportunity to establish democracy. Let's not throw it away," she said.

Terming Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India as the religious political one, Sharmin S. Murshid deplored that the Indian media tried to portray the recent  student revolution against autocratic Sheikh Hasina as the rise of the religious power.

Pointing at the recent violence over a certain religious community, Sharmin S. Murshid termed the recent violence as a political clash, not a religious one, as a certain group of a community belongs to a certain political party, adding that people in Bangladesh irrespective caste, creed, religion and race in communal harmony.

Urging all sections of the society to work together, she said the current interim government must not be allowed to fail and Bangladesh will embark on an election roadmap through reform programmes.

Lying emphasis on people-to-people relations between the two neighboring countries, she said the Modi government only developed relations with one political party, not with the total population of the country.

Expressing concern at the ‘misinformation’ and ‘disinformation’ spread by the Indian media and society, the adviser urged the stakeholders concerned in Bangladesh to work unitedly to counter Indian propaganda.

She invited members of the Indian media and society to visit Bangladesh to gain a deep understanding over the August 5 revolution and the structure of the Bangladesh society.

She said, "The reform programmes need to be carried forward keeping in mind the goal of establishing an accountable government, and a parliament formed by representatives elected by the people."

"Political empowerment of the people can only be ensured by establishing the right of voters to elect their desired representatives through a transparent, credible  and impartial election," she said.

"The interim government has already undertaken reforms in several areas. The interim government is working to restore order in the country following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's fascist and despotic regime.

 Sharmin S. Murshid said "We will capitalize the merit in reforming the ministry as well as to rebuild the country. The social welfare ministry will be running on merit", the advisor said

The advisor said, "Mutual understanding is a must for overall development as no development is possible without mutual understanding. Keep trust in yourself and appreciate others for their good deeds and success".

"Merit, science and reasoning can bring freedom for the nation. With this pledge, we all have to work together using the power of youth to rebuild the society and nation", said the advisor, adding, "To do good things for the country, we have to be more conscious about ethical issues and discipline".

"We want to make a corruption-free place. We have to be disciplined, breaking the shackles of indiscipline. I will not listen to you, if anybody violates the rules or discipline", added Sharmin Murshid.

Sharmin S. Murshid has worked as an election observer in Bangladesh and internationally.

Former and incumbent diplomats, high civil military bureaucrats, policy-makers, teachers, members of the civil society and media attended the seminar.

Throughout her career, she has often voiced criticism of elections held under the Sheikh Hasina government.