State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Saturday said Bangladesh’s national interest and the interests of its people will be the foremost consideration in deciding whether the government joins any pact or multilateral body.
“Our foreign policy will be guided ‘Bangladesh First’. Whether we join any pact or any multilateral body will be decided primarily on whether Bangladesh’s interests and the interests of the Bangladeshi people are protected,” she told reporters while responding to a question.
A section of foreign media outlets reported that Bangladesh maintains a positive approach towards the possibility of joining an economic or defence framework involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye.
Shama said Dhaka would make its decisions independently based on national interests and dismissed reports appearing in the Indian or Pakistani media as a basis for judging government decisions.
“If the Bangladesh government takes any such decision, you - the Bangladeshi media - will be the first to know. So why should what is appearing in the Pakistani or Indian media be our consideration?” she said.
Shama said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has undertaken significantly more work during the six months following the February election than at any comparable period over the past 17 years.
“I believe that in these six months, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has done much more work than at any time during the past 17 years,” she said.
The State Minister said three new wings had been opened at the Ministry and that the government was working on migration-related issues, including preventing irregular migration.
“We are working on migration and on stopping irregular migration,” she said.
She also highlighted the formation of several inter-ministerial focal-point groups involving the ministries responsible for expatriate welfare, culture, labour and commerce.
She said the foreign ministry would face an especially busy period ahead as the foreign minister prepares to take on responsibilities related to the UN General Assembly presidency.
“Our foreign minister has won the UNGA presidency, and he will be extremely busy over the next year,” she said.
“Therefore, for the convenience of the ministry’s work and to accelerate the government’s activities, the government will take the necessary decisions, and work will proceed accordingly,” she added.
Shama also welcomed the role of newly appointed State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir.
“Of course, he was working as the foreign affairs adviser. Even when we were in opposition, he worked on foreign affairs. So, obviously, he has that experience,” she said.
“We believe that if we work well as a team, if we can work together and in coordination, our multilateral activities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will certainly move forward with greater importance and momentum,” she said.