State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Monday said the increasingly complex international order, intensifying strategic rivalries and regional conflicts underscore the need for a foreign policy that responds to emerging realities while remaining firmly anchored in Bangladesh’s national interests.

“In this interconnected world, a crisis in one region has far-reaching and lasting consequences for others,” she said, noting that decisions taken in one capital can shape trade flows across continents, while geopolitical rivalries among major powers can influence the strategic choices available to countries far beyond their immediate neighbourhood.

Speaking at a seminar at BIISS auditorium, Shama Obaed said the evolving international landscape has made the discussion particularly timely.

Referring to the ongoing conflicts and growing instability around the world, the State Minister said Bangladesh is also facing the consequences of the unfolding global turmoil.

Mentioning the recent attacks in Saudi Arabia, she said Bangladesh has lost two nationals in the incidents over the past two days, while at least 24 other Bangladeshis are receiving treatment at different hospitals in the country.

“We are actually living in a global turmoil,” she said, highlighting the far-reaching implications of international conflicts.

She said Bangladesh needed a foreign policy that was not only responsive to emerging international realities but also guided by its national interests as the global landscape continued to evolve.