‘Bangladesh First’ foreign policy to prioritise national interests, economic gains: Shama

Dhaka rejects ‘either-or’ diplomacy, seeks broader global partnerships, investment and skilled jobsDiplomatic Correspondent: State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has said Bangladesh will pursue a pragmatic, balanced and national interest-driven foreign policy to navigate growing geopolitical rivalries while protecting its sovereignty, strategic autonomy and economic interests.Emphasising the government’s ‘Bangladesh First’ approach, she said the country would maintain constructive relations with competing global powers without becoming dependent on any particular country or geopolitical bloc.“​Navigating this turbulent situation requires a foreign policy that is not only sensitive to emerging realities, but also firmly rooted in our national interests,” Shama said while addressing a seminar on “Foreign Policy of Bangladesh: Navigating Pathways in a Shifting World” organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in Dhaka.The state minister said intensifying strategic competition, changing regional dynamics and global economic uncertainties had made it increasingly important for Bangladesh to protect its national interests while expanding international cooperation.Describing ‘Bangladesh First’ as both a guiding principle and a strategic directive, she said the policy placed sovereignty, national dignity and the welfare of the people at the centre of the country’s international engagements.“It means building partnerships without dependency, enhancing cooperation without compromising our independence, and strengthening relations based on mutual respect, sovereign equality and shared interests,” she said.Shama said the approach reflected the foreign policy principles pursued by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) since the leadership of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.No pressure to choose between global powersMaking Bangladesh’s diplomatic position clear, Shama said the country would not adopt an ‘either-or’ approach that forced it to choose between competing countries or international blocs.“There is no ‘either-or’ policy in our foreign policy. It is not that we must maintain relations exclusively with this country or that country. We want our foreign policy to engage with everyone,” she said.The government would continue strengthening ties with traditional partners, including the United States, the European Union, China, Russia and the Middle East, while exploring new opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, Central Asia and Eastern Europe.She said Bangladesh would assess international partnerships based on their potential to contribute to national priorities, particularly investment, energy security, food security, infrastructure, technology, security and skilled employment.Strategic autonomy, she explained, meant retaining the freedom to evaluate international opportunities independently and make decisions in accordance with Bangladesh’s own interests.The policy signals an emphasis on widening the country’s diplomatic and economic options at a time when geopolitical competition is increasingly influencing trade, investment, technology and regional security.Economic diplomacy takes centre stageShama identified economic diplomacy as a central pillar of the government’s foreign policy, saying international relations must generate tangible benefits for ordinary citizens.The government is seeking to increase exports, diversify foreign investment, gain access to new markets and build stronger international economic partnerships.“Diversification is the key. We are looking for various markets and products,” she said.Alongside the ready-made garment sector, Bangladesh is looking to expand exports of pharmaceuticals, ceramics, leather goods, information technology, jute and environmentally friendly jute-based products.According to Shama, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been organising discussions on trade, investment and emerging technologies to identify opportunities for improving the country’s competitiveness in the global economy.A recent discussion focused on artificial intelligence, innovation, digital governance, skills development and digital equity.Referring to her recent visit to Silicon Valley as part of a high-level government delegation, she said meetings had been held with major technology companies, including Google, Apple and Nvidia.The discussions covered artificial intelligence, sovereign AI capabilities, data centres, digital infrastructure and the use of technology in education, healthcare and public services.Shama also highlighted the government’s ‘Invest Bangladesh’ initiative, which aims to improve transparency, reduce bureaucratic complexities, curb corruption and create a more favourable investment environment for foreign investors and expatriate Bangladeshis.For Bangladesh, which needs to create employment, diversify exports and attract productive investment, the challenge will be to translate these diplomatic initiatives into actual business opportunities, technology transfers and jobs.Reviving SAARC, strengthening regional tiesThe state minister stressed that regional cooperation remained essential for promoting peace, connectivity, economic integration and shared development.She reiterated the government’s commitment to revitalising the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), saying political differences among member states should not prevent cooperation in areas of common interest.“We believe that differences among countries should not hinder maintaining cooperation in areas of shared interest,” she said.As the current chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Bangladesh is working to deepen practical cooperation among member countries.The government also intends to remain constructively engaged with the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).Shama identified regional connectivity, trade, energy cooperation and maritime security as priority areas where stronger collaboration could deliver mutual benefits.She also reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to multilateralism, describing international institutions as important platforms for protecting sovereign equality and addressing challenges that no country can resolve alone.She cited Bangladesh’s recent election to the Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Asia-Pacific Group as an example of the country’s growing engagement in international forums.Climate justice and migration diplomacyClimate change and overseas employment were identified as two other important areas of Bangladesh’s evolving foreign policy.Shama said Bangladesh contributes relatively little to global greenhouse gas emissions but remains highly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change.She said the government would continue advocating equitable climate finance, adaptation support and technology transfer, while seeking greater access to the Green Climate Fund and affordable financing for climate-vulnerable countries.“For Bangladesh, climate change is not merely an environmental concern. It is a question of development, economic security and fairness,” she said.The state minister also stressed the need for safe, orderly and dignified overseas employment, expressing concern over the exploitation of migrant workers by dishonest recruitment networks.She said the government was working to expand legal employment opportunities, protect expatriate workers’ rights and promote skilled migration through technical and vocational education.For a country whose economy depends significantly on migrant workers and remittance inflows, the approach is intended to improve workers’ protection while expanding access to better-paying jobs in international labour markets.Shama added that Bangladesh’s diplomacy was increasingly extending beyond traditional government-to-government relations to include cultural exchanges, sports, creative industries and people-to-people contacts.Rohingya crisis remains a priorityTurning to the Rohingya crisis, Shama reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to finding a permanent solution through sustained diplomatic engagement and international cooperation.The issue remains a major challenge for Bangladesh, which continues to host a large population of forcibly displaced Rohingya from Myanmar.Securing a durable solution will require sustained international engagement and effective cooperation among relevant stakeholders, alongside conditions that allow the Rohingya to return voluntarily, safely and with dignity.‘Success must improve people’s lives’Shama said the ultimate measure of Bangladesh’s foreign policy would be its contribution to national prosperity and the welfare of ordinary people.She argued that diplomatic achievements should not be measured solely by high-level meetings or international engagements, but by whether they create economic opportunities and support national development.“Our government is fully committed to transforming our diplomatic engagements into fruitful national achievements, partnerships into economic prosperity, and our international presence into greater opportunities for our people,” she said.“The core centre of our foreign policy is the ordinary people of our country,” she added.The emphasis on measurable outcomes places economic opportunity, employment, investment and public welfare at the heart of the government’s diplomatic agenda.However, turning the policy into tangible gains will depend on Bangladesh’s ability to negotiate favourable partnerships, maintain balanced relations with major powers, improve its investment climate and strengthen the capacity of its institutions.BIISS Director General Major General A S M Ridwanur Rahman delivered the welcome address and chaired the seminar.BIISS Research Directors Dr Mahfuz Kabir and Dr Sufia Khanom, and Research Fellows ASM Tarek Hassan Semul and Ayesha Binte Towhid presented papers on different aspects of Bangladesh’s foreign policy.Senior government officials, foreign diplomats, business representatives, academics, researchers, students and representatives of various think tanks attended the event.