May 26, 2003	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 23,1424

DHAKA, May 25: The two-day “Third South Asian Free Media Conference” begun here on Sunday with a call to build regional cooperation for ensuring democratic environment in South Asia, freedom of the press and free flow of information.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Democracy and News Media”.

More than 150 journalists belonging to SAFMA are participating in the regional conference aimed at boosting cooperation among the South Asian nations.

“After a prolonged standoff between India and Pakistan, the ice seems to be melting, even though the causes behind the animosity and conflict continue to persist,” Imtiaz Alam, the secretary general of the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), told the opening session of a two-day conference.

A large number of politicians, belonging to both the ruling and opposition camps addressed the opening session. Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is scheduled to address the concluding session.