Bangabandhu birth centenary

Bangabandhu’s foreign policy still relevant to resolve crises

The contours of Bangabandhu’s foreign policy—to make friendship with all and no hostility to others— continues to remain relevant in the present age for resolving crises and enhancing cooperation and partnership across the globe for mutual benefit, experts said.  International analysts said Bangladesh is still following the principle of the foreign policy adopted by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in the Constitution, and is leading its diplomatic relations with others on the same footprint.

International analysts further said Bangladesh has maintained warm relations with its neighbouring countries, including India and Myanmar, and is always trying, or has tried, to resolve the crises through dialogues. Bangladesh adopted the foreign policy ‘Friendship to all, malice towards none’ in the Constitution soon after the country’s Independence in 1971, and has not deviated from this policy.  The current government, led by the Awami League, is following this principle while dealing with its neighbours and other countries in conducting relations in areas like trade, commerce, the economy, investment and climate change, through participation on the basis of friendship, experts said.  

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said the foreign policy adopted by Bangabandhu is still the guiding force while maintaining diplomatic relations with others across the globe. “Owing to the principles of our foreign policy, we always maintain a balance in our bilateral and multilateral relations with other countries. Bangladesh always follows a middle path in foreign relations because of its foreign policy founded by Bangabandhu,” he added. “The foreign policy of Bangladesh is simple but very significant in maintaining diplomatic relations. We still feel the significance of the policy,” he added.

He further said, “Bangladesh’s foreign policy has enabled us to stand beside the oppressed as Bangabandhu said the world is divided into two camps—the oppressed and the oppressors. I am with the oppressed.”

“Being inspired by our foreign policy, the government has given shelter to the displaced Rohingya population in the country. We are trying to resolve the crisis through dialogue with our friendly country Myanmar. We are hopeful to resolve it,” he added.  

Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, Professor of International Relations and the director of the Centre for Genocide Studies, Dhaka University (DU), told The Independent: “The foreign policy of Bangladesh—friendship to all, malice to none—has enabled Bangladesh to make friends with others easily and it is much more important now.”  

“Thanks to the policy of friendship, Bangladesh has been able to enter into various international platforms like the Indo-Pacific Alliance and China’s Belt and Road Initiative and into relationships with other countries. These relationships are helping Bangladesh economically,” he added.  

“Because of the policy of friendliness, Bangladesh has resolved many issues with its neighbours, especially with India, as many outstanding issues have been resolved and many others would be settled through peaceful means,” he added. He also said soon after the Independence of Bangladesh, the number of friends of Bangladesh was few, but Bangabandhu was successful in making friends with others through his amicable foreign policy.

“Through his prudent foreign policy based on friendship, Bangabandhu made bilateral ties with different  countries and international platforms like the Commonwealth and Non-Alignment Movement, and forged relations with India and Russia,” he added.Owing to the foreign policy of friendship, Bangladesh obtained membership of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC). After obtaining OIC membership, Bangladesh was invited to the OIC Summit in Lahore in 1974 as an independent state. Bangabandhu went to Lahore on 23 February that year to attend the summit.  

Experts said Bangabandhu’s foreign policy laid the foundations to the peaceful and friendship co-existence of all nations through mutual cooperation and partnership. Bangabandhu’s leadership, wisdom and personal relationship with world leaders enabled him to gain diplomatic successes in the international arena through friendship and cooperation.

 

Bangabandhu birth centenary

Bangabandhus foreign policy still relevant to resolve crises

The contours of Bangabandhus foreign policyto make friendship with all and no hostility to others continues to remain relevant in the present age for resolving crises and enhancing cooperation and partnership across the globe for mutual benefit, experts said. International analysts said Bangladesh is still following the principle of the foreign policy adopted by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in the Constitution, and is leading its diplomatic relations with others on the same footprint. International analysts further said Bangladesh has maintained warm relations with its neighbouring countries, including India and Myanmar, and is always trying, or has tried, to resolve the crises through dialogues. Bangladesh adopted the foreign policy Friendship to all, malice towards none in the Constitution soon after the countrys Independence in 1971, and has not deviated from this policy. The current government, led by the Awami League, is following this principle while dealing with its neighbours and other countries in conducting relations in areas like trade, commerce, the economy, investment and climate change, through participation on the basis of friendship, experts said. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said the foreign policy adopted by Bangabandhu is still the guiding force while maintaining diplomatic relations with others across the globe. Owing to the principles of our foreign policy, we always maintain a balance in our bilateral and multilateral relations with other countries. Bangladesh always follows a middle path in foreign relations because of its foreign policy founded by Bangabandhu, he added. The foreign policy of Bangladesh is simple but very significant in maintaining diplomatic relations. We still feel the significance of the policy, he added. He further said, Bangladeshs foreign policy has enabled us to stand beside the oppressed as Bangabandhu said the world is divided into two campsthe oppressed and the oppressors. I am with the oppressed. Being inspired by our foreign policy, the government has given shelter to the displaced Rohingya population in the country. We are trying to resolve the crisis through dialogue with our friendly country Myanmar. We are hopeful to resolve it, he added. Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, Professor of International Relations and the director of the Centre for Genocide Studies, Dhaka University (DU), told The Independent: The foreign policy of Bangladeshfriendship to all, malice to nonehas enabled Bangladesh to make friends with others easily and it is much more important now. Thanks to the policy of friendship, Bangladesh has been able to enter into various international platforms like the Indo-Pacific Alliance and Chinas Belt and Road Initiative and into relationships with other countries. These relationships are helping Bangladesh economically, he added. Because of the policy of friendliness, Bangladesh has resolved many issues with its neighbours, especially with India, as many outstanding issues have been resolved and many others would be settled through peaceful means, he added. He also said soon after the Independence of Bangladesh, the number of friends of Bangladesh was few, but Bangabandhu was successful in making friends with others through his amicable foreign policy. Through his prudent foreign policy based on friendship, Bangabandhu made bilateral ties with different countries and international platforms like the Commonwealth and Non-Alignment Movement, and forged relations with India and Russia, he added.Owing to the foreign policy of friendship, Bangladesh obtained membership of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC). After obtaining OIC membership, Bangladesh was invited to the OIC Summit in Lahore in 1974 as an independent state. Bangabandhu went to Lahore on 23 February that year to attend the summit. Experts said Bangabandhus foreign policy laid the foundations to the peaceful and friendship co-existence of all nations through mutual cooperation and partnership. Bangabandhus leadership, wisdom and personal relationship with world leaders enabled him to gain diplomatic successes in the international arena through friendship and cooperation.