Prime Minister Tarique Rahman says his government's foreign policy is anchored in "Bangladesh First" policy and declares that his recent visits to Malaysia and China were driven solely by national interest.
Speaking in parliament on Saturday after lawmakers unanimously adopted a motion congratulating him on what the government describes as an "extraordinary success" of the six-day diplomatic tour, Rahman said protecting the interests of Bangladesh and its people had been the guiding objective of his administration.
"The people of this country have entrusted us with the responsibility of safeguarding their interests," the prime minister said. "Our party's guiding principle is 'Bangladesh First'. From my position, I have tried to speak for and protect the interests of my country and its people."
Rahman rejects any suggestion that the parliamentary endorsement represents a personal achievement, arguing that any gains made during the trip belong to Bangladesh rather than to him.
"If this has been a positive achievement, then it is Bangladesh's achievement," he told the House. "If the visit has benefited the people of the country, then that success belongs to the people."
The prime minister also thanks lawmakers from both the treasury and opposition benches, with particular tribute paid to opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman for supporting efforts undertaken in national interest.
Earlier in the session, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed welcomed Rahman back to parliament, describing the tour as the beginning of "a new chapter" in Bangladesh's economy and foreign policy.
"You have opened a new horizon for Bangladesh's economy and diplomacy through this visit," the speaker says before greeting the prime minister with, "Welcome back to this parliament."
The motion of thanks was introduced by Local Government Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. It praises Rahman's official visits to Malaysia and China on June 21-26, saying that they achieved "unprecedented success".
The resolution was passed unanimously by voice vote after speeches from Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman, the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami party.
Khosru describes the tour as a significant one marking a cultural shift in Bangladeshi politics, noting that the prime minister had deliberately avoided the large airport receptions traditionally organised for political leaders.
"He neither sought nor received mass receptions at airports upon departure or return. That represents a significant cultural change in our politics," the finance minister says.
He adds that Bangladesh's relations with foreign countries would henceforth be based on "mutual respect and mutual interests", free from external interference, arguing that Rahman's overseas engagements established a new benchmark for the country's diplomacy.
The opposition also broadly welcomes the government's diplomatic outreach while stressing the importance of transparency and national sovereignty.
Shafiqur Rahman says his party wants to see "a genuinely independent foreign policy" and pledges constructive cooperation with the government in pursuing that objective.
He describes Malaysia and China as two of Bangladesh's longstanding and trusted partners, while calling for greater diversification of exports beyond garments and overseas labour.
"As an import-dependent country, Bangladesh has considerable scope to diversify its exports, too," he says. "That requires short-, medium- and long-term planning."
The opposition leader also urges the government to present all future bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding before parliament in the interest of transparency and accountability.
"No one should interfere in Bangladesh's independent foreign policy," he says. "The country's interests must always come first. Any agreement or memorandum must be based on the mutual interests of both countries."
Rahman returned to Dhaka on Friday night after completing his first overseas tour as prime minister, a trip that included high-level meetings in Kuala Lumpur and Beijing focused on expanding trade, investment and strategic cooperation.
The prime minister's tour concluded with his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com
