Call for a balanced foreign policy reflecting July Revolution spirit

Foreign policy experts, politicians, and academicians have emphasised reshaping the country's foreign policy to move away from ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina's one-country-centric approach, aligning it with the aspirations of the new generation who sacrificed their lives in the July Revolution.

At a seminar titled "Geopolitical Challenges and Strategic Imperatives for Post-Hasina Bangladesh" held at the National Press Club today (Saturday) they emphasised a balanced foreign relationship, prioritising economic development.

The event was presided over by CAF Dowlah, chairman of the Bangladesh Institute of Policy Studies.

In his keynote speech at the seminar, former ambassador Humayun Kabir said Bangladesh's foreign policy in the post-Hasina era should be restructured in a way that reflects the aspirations of the new generation who sacrificed their lives in the July Revolution. 

BNP's Central Executive Committee Organising Secretary Shama Obaid said the late president Ziaur Rahman's foreign policy was based on the principle of "Friendship with all, malice towards none." 

However, she said, Hasina adopted an India-centric foreign policy, disregarding Bangladesh's fundamental interests. "Her objective was to safeguard India's strategic interests and pursue a policy of total dependence on India, which has been severely detrimental to Bangladesh's national interests.

Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan said India built its relationship not with Bangladesh, but with the Awami League (AL). 

He continued, "China has invested $16 billion in the country and has openly stated that it does not want Bangladesh to join QUAD. Additionally, USA's War on Terror also helped the AL consolidate its hold on power. In the post-Hasina era, Bangladesh must restructure its geopolitical strategy."

Retired General Aminul Karim said Bangladesh must develop an honest, skilled, and patriotic human resource base, enhance its defence capabilities and allocate at least 5% of its GDP for human resource development, as recommended by UNESCO.

CAF Dowlah highlighted that during Hasina's tenure, Bangladesh was heavily dependent on India in terms of trade, physical and digital connectivity, and national security. 

"Additionally, this period was marked by issues such as granting transit facilities to India, unequal water-sharing agreements, border killings, and trade imbalances," he said.