MDG progress poor in Asia Pacific: Bihar Speaker

"The acts of Parliamentarians and Legislators are important in achieving millennium development goal and delineating contours of development after 2015," Chaudhary said while chairing a convention at Dhaka early this week.

Chaudhary chaired a session during the two-day convention of Parliamentarians of South, South-West and Central Asian regions at Bangladesh capital on December 10-11.

People from 14 nations participated in the meet.

Chaudhary said at present the progress report of MDG reveal that in the past one decade countries in Asian Pacific region are lagging behind in achieving targets on this count.

Their efforts were similar but achievements varied, he said and emphasised on cooperation between nations for this.

In 2000, 189 nations had made a promise to free people from extreme poverty and multiple deprivations. This pledge turned into the eight MDGs.

They are: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, Achieve universal primary education, Promote gender equality and empower women, Reduce child mortality, Improve maternal health, Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, Ensure environmental sustainability and Develop a global partnership for development.

The Bihar Speaker was invited to the meet by Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development and Asia and Pacific UN Millennium Campaign.