Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday (August 30, 2023) said some major powers of the world want to establish a loyal government in Bangladesh because of importance in its geographical location. “Actually, due to the geographical location of Bangladesh, some big countries want that there will be a government here (in Bangladesh)which will just lick their feet,” she said. The premier said this while addressing a discussion on the occasion of National Mourning Day. Read more: PM Hasina’s participation at G20 Summit to add yet another feather to the ‘Golden Chapter’ in Dhaka-Delhi ties: Momen Dhaka City Awami League North and South units organised the discussion at Bangabandhu International Conference Center. She alleged that big countries always have their big brotherly attitude. “If they become friends of anyone then there is no need for any enemy,” she said without mentioning any country’s name. In this connection she said that Ukraine has been their friend. “What is the condition of Ukraine today. Women and children there are facing untold miseries. Their country has been demolished for this kind of friendship. That is the reality,” she said. Hasina, also the president of ruling Awami League, came down on these countries for their unnecessary nose poking in the country’s election. “There are some countries which are searching democracy all the time,” she said. In this regard, she said that Awami League always struggled for establishing democracy and voting rights of the people in the country. Read: Some foreign powers are taking interest in Bangladesh's election to hinder progress: PM Hasina “Leaders and activists of this party gave their blood to establish democracy. And now, we have to listen from some countries which are searching for democracy and rights for casting votes,” she said. The PM said that people of the country laid their lives and gave blood to attain independence under the leadership of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. “This sacrifice and blood must not go in vain, we will not allow that,” she said. Talking about BNP’s demand for democracy, sheikh Hasina said she gets surprised when she hears them talking about the democracy. She said BNP was born through killings, coup and conspiracy, established by the illegal power grabber and its journey began through snatching away people's right for voting and the vote rigging. "So the word democracy does not go with them,” she said. She also alleged that BNP has some masters who "are saying that democracy has to be established in Bangladesh". She questioned where were they while Ziaur Rahman ( BNP founder) killed the father of the nation, imposed martial law and grabbed the state power. And when HM Ershad grabbed the power by proclaiming martial law. Read: Foreign powers can be friends but can’t bring election win: Quader “At that time we struggled and fought to establish democracy, but did not saw them,” she said. South and North City Corporation Mayors Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and Atiqul Islam, addressed the function.Dhaka North City Awami League President AKM Bazlur Rahman presided over the discussion while Dhaka South City AL President Abu Ahammed Monnafi spoke at the discussion while its General Secretary Humayun Kabir conducted it. Dhaka North City AL Vice Presidents, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Sadek Khan,MP, and Abdul Kader Khan, Joint General Secretary Motiur Rahman Moti, Organising Secretaries AKM Mazhar Anam and Md Azizul Haque Rana, Family Affairs Secretary Meherunnesa Mery and Dhaka South City Awami League Vice Presidents, Dr Dilip Kumar Roy, Mizbaur Rahman Bhuiyan Ratan and Sajeda Begum, Joint General Secretary Qazi Morshed Kamal, Organising Secretaries Akhter Hossain and Golam Sarwar Kabir, among others, also spoke at the discussion. At the outset of the meeting, one minute silence was observed to show respect to the martyrs of the August 15, 1975 carnage and August 21,2004 grenade attack. Read more: No concern among US businessmen about upcoming elections: Salman F Rahman

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today (January 10, 2023) said Bangladesh is maintaining good relations with both global powers USA and China through its balanced foreign policy, though it is a “challenging” task. “That is a challenging thing. They (US, China) might have their own problems. That is their headache, not ours. We want to maintain good relations with both,” he said. Momen made the remarks when a reporter wanted to know how the Bangladesh government is maintaining relations with the United States and China. The foreign minister referred to the historic quote of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, “Friendship to all, malice towards none”, which has recently been incorporated in a UN General Assembly resolution. “We believe in this policy,” Momen said. Also read: China will remain engaged in Bangladesh’s next stage of development journey: Momen Momen received the newly appointed Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang during the latter’s brief stopover at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport early today while US Senior Director for South Asia, National Security Council, Rear Admiral Eileen Laubacher, wrapped up her four-day visit to Bangladesh. On the other hand, a delegation of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), led by Vice Minister Chen Zhou, is currently visiting Bangladesh to have interactions with Bangladesh leadership. The CPC delegation is scheduled to leave Dhaka on January 11 while Donald Lu, who became Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs on September 15, 2021, is likely to begin his Bangladesh visit on January 15. Asked whether Bangladesh-US discussed the election issue during US official Laubacher’s visit, Momen said the next national election will be held after one year, and over the last 14 years, elections were held in a free, fair manner. “Our country is a democratic country.” Also read: Bangladesh reassures Chinese FM of one-China policy, seeks better trade relations He said the overall election environment can be improved through joint efforts domestically with the participation of people and all parties. Momen said it would be unfortunate if anyone violence occurs during elections and it cannot be stopped by “recommendations from the outside. We have to do this.” The foreign minister said the government wants to ensure a free, fair and acceptable election and that is why there is an independent Election Commission. Momen said considering the remarkable development over the last 14 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, people will re-elect Awami League for their better future. Read More: New Chinese foreign minister makes brief stopover at Dhaka airport “We believe in people. People will vote for Awami League if there is a fair election. Awami League is a democratic party. We never came to power through the backdoor,” said the foreign minister, adding that, “Our intention is good. We have a good track record.”

Global powers warned Friday that the world has become a more dangerous place and urged restraint after the U.S. assassinated Iran's top general, although Britain and Germany also suggested that Iran shared blame for provoking the targeted killing that dramatically ratcheted up tensions in the Mideast.