SAARC Car Rally flagged off in Bangla amidst call for promoting trad

Cox's Bazar, Mar 15 (UNI) SAARC Car Rally-2007 was flagged off from Bangladesh's bay resort here today to showcase the oneness and diversity of South Asian region amidst a call to promote tourism and trade.

In the landmark mega-event in the South Asian forum's history, the cross-border caravan will cruise through seven member states of SAARC and end in Maldives on April 14.

''This SAARC Car Rally is taking place at an important juncture of our progress towards deeper regional integration. SAARC should increase its efforts to promote the region as a common tourist hub,'' Chief Advisor of caretaker government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said while ceremonially flagging off the rally.

Mr Ahmed put his signature on a colurful flag of the car rally declaring the rally open.

The caravan of 30 Tata Safaris tastefully decorated cars will travel 1300 kms inside Bangladesh before entering India on March 18. Some 110 participants from SAARC countries are participating in the event. They will drive along an 8200-km path, crossing through varying terrain, over a 30-day period.

The region-wide road journey by the mission will bind the people of the member-countries with stronger ties as they meander through the subcontinent.

Bangladesh's Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Maj General (rtd) MA Matin and Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury also spoke at the inaugural ceremony at Cox's Bazar stadium.

High Commissioners and Ambassadors of SAARC countries, SAARC delegates, diplomats and civil military officials were present.

Eight elephants - seven carrying national flags their member states and one carrying SAARC flag- joined a march past at the ceremony.

The seeds of this unique initiative were sown in November 2005 at the Dhaka SAARC Summit where India offered to hold a South Asian Car Rally.

This would be a run-up to the 14th SAARC Summit in New Delhi to be held on April 3-4. It would symbolize vividly the regional identity and also draw attention to the urgent need to improve SAARC transport infrastructure.

The convoy will reach Delhi on April 2 coinciding with the SAARC Summit and be flagged off from the Indian capital on April 3 by the SAARC leaders.

UNI