ZCZC
BSS-41
BANGABANDHU-FOREIGN-POLICY
Bangladesh going ahead following Bangabandhu’s foreign policy
By Mahfuza Jasmine
DHAKA, Aug 14, 2019 (BSS) – Foreign policy of Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is very much relevant still now and Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina is maintaining diplomatic relations with the world
following the policy.
“Friendship to all, malice to none is the foreign policy of Bangladesh
after independence in 1971… It is still the guiding force in maintaining
the diplomatic relations with the world,” said Foreign Minister AK Adbul
Momen.
“It’s simple but so important. Still we feel the significance of this
policy,” said Momen who worked at the planning ministry, local government
ministry and several other ministries under Bangabandhu’s government.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is taking ahead the country following the
foreign policy of Bangabandhu and because of maintaining such a foreign
policy, Bangladesh has no enmity with any other country, he said.
“I follow this policy and I feel what an excellent policy it is!” said the
foreign minister.
He said Bangabandhu’s foreign policy had several principles-firstly:
friendship to all, malice to none and secondly: Bangladesh is friend of all
persecuted people in the world.
Recalling the famous remarks of Bangabandhu, “The world is divided into
two camps– the oppressed and the oppressors. I am with the oppressed,” Momen
said, adding that Bangabandhu had always worked for the oppressed people.
The foreign minister said Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina followed
Bangabandhu’s footsteps by giving shelter to persecuted Rohingya people of
Myanmar in Bangladesh.
“Because of the Bangabandhu’s such foreign policy, we get honor from many
countries. A few countries can dislike us due to political reasons but like
our moral and ethical standard,” he added.
Echoing the same views, international affairs analyst Mohammed Jamir said
Bangladesh always stands by the oppressed people of the world. Bangladesh
sympathetic mindset has been exposed through giving shelter to thousands of
Rohingya people, he added.
Jamir said Bangabandhu’s direct involvement in his foreign policy had
strengthened the bilateral ties with Russia, Eastern Europe, Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM) and Commonwealth countries.
Because of Bangabandhu’s policy, he said Bangladesh stood beside Syria and
Egypt during their war against Israel. Under the directives of Bangabandhu, a
medical team of armed forces and tea were sent from Bangladesh to help the
Egyptian soldieries in Senai, recalled Jamir who also went to Egypt with the
medical team.
Because of Bangabandhu’s farsighted and friendly policy, Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait, Egypt, Algeria and Syria had later cooperated Bangladesh to get the
membership of Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC). The countries also
stressed on inviting Bangladesh as independent state to join OIC Conference
in Lahore, 1974. Jamir said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is also following
the path of Bangabandhu. Bangladesh now keep its head high before the world
because of maintaining good relations with all countries, he observed.
BSS/SPL/MJ/MKD/TAN/SSS/2021 hrs