Firm foreign policy to be pursued

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed has said the BNP-led government intends to move forward with a "strong backbone", signalling a more confident and inclusive diplomatic approach following its electoral mandate.

Speaking at the foreign ministry on Thursday, she said Bangladesh would engage all countries while firmly safeguarding national interests in a changing regional and global landscape.

"Bangladesh should be viewed differently," she told reporters when asked about the foreign policy challenges facing the government.

She pointed out that the new administration's popular mandate had strengthened its diplomatic footing.

"Our backbone has become strong after a long time because we have come with the people's mandate," she said, adding that the government intended to take decisions inclusively, consulting political parties across the spectrum as well as civil society.

Asked whether improving relations with neighbouring countries posed particular challenges, Obaed said difficulties were not confined to any single state.

"We have challenges with all countries. We have issues. To resolve those issues, we have to proceed both bilaterally and multilaterally. And that is what we will do," she said.

Her remarks come amid broader questions about Bangladesh's diplomatic posture following the installation of a new government after a prolonged period of political turbulence.

Bangladesh, she added, would maintain relations with "all states and all governments" while safeguarding the interests of its people.

Obaed described the government's approach as a departure from recent years, calling the current administration the country's first democratic government in a long time.

"A democratic government's foreign policy should reflect confidence," she said. "Bangladesh will stand upright, engage with all countries, talk to them and maintain friendship."

While she did not elaborate on specific policy shifts, her comments signal an effort to project balance and self-assurance in foreign relations at a time when Dhaka faces economic pressures, labour migration concerns and shifting regional alignments in South Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific.

Responding to a question, she said the government is aware of ongoing visa-related difficulties and is working to address them as part of recalibrating foreign policy under the newly elected administration.

"The foreign ministry is aware of the visa issues and is working on how these can be resolved," she said.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com