"We must now make a break with the past and join hands to realise our common shared destiny," Mainul said.

"Economic cooperation among South Asian nations is not a new phenomenon. The quest for economic integration however has remained inhibited by the lack of political courage and will."

The adviser made his comments at a seminar titled, "Saarc Economic Connectivity: Post Delhi Declaration Perspective" that was held at the Brac Centre in the city.

Women Entrepreneurs Association of Bangladesh (WEAB) and the Saarc Chamber Women Entrepreneur Council (SCWEC) jointly organised the seminar.

The adviser stressed the importance of improving connectivity between the countries in Saarc. "Road, rail and other physical links will no doubt be helpful but the real human connectivity should mean caring and sharing for common good of the peoples of the Saarc," he said.

Mainul was chief guest at the seminar which was also addressed by CM Shafi Sami and Sultana Kamal, former caretaker government advisers. Debapriya Bhattacharya, executive director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue, chaired the session and WEAB President Nasreen Awal Mintoo also addressed the function with VL Indira Dutta presenting a keynote paper at the seminar.

Shafi Sami said the last Saarc Summit was more successful because it went into the implementation stage from the declaration stage. He said the involvement of Afghanistan as a full member and Iran as an observer in Saarc will strengthen regional cooperation and efforts.

Sultana Kamal said women have the skills to do business and become entrepreneurs, but they are not given enough freedom to move forward. "They are somehow controlled in their families," she said.

European Union Representative Charles Whitely said economic connectivity of women is very important for any country's development. He said the degree to which Saarc has embraced the need for economic connectivity is heartening.

He said the EU would support any kind of initiative that would enhance women's empowerment and entrepreneurship.

Debapriya said the Saarc region has to enhance three types of connectivity--economic, physical and psychological-- in order to achieve economic progress and cooperation.

He said the five percent intra regional trade among Saarc nations and 2 percent of investment underlines the need for more connectivity.