Reshape foreign policy based on national interest, July uprising spirit: Experts

Foreign policy should be reshaped by prioritising national interest, sovereignty, and the spirit of the July uprising, moving away from the submissive approach of past fascist regimes, foreign affairs experts said at a recent dialogue.

The call was made at a discussion titled "Dialogue for Democratic Reconstruction – On Foreign Policy", organised by the Centre for Governance Studies at the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) Auditorium in Dhaka today (31 July).

Participants expressed disappointment that the current interim government has not formed a Foreign Policy Reform Commission and has taken no action against fascist-aligned elements in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

ANM Muniruzzaman, security analyst and president of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, said, "During the fascist era, many diplomats behaved improperly and turned Bangladeshi embassies abroad into party offices. Even after the interim government took power, these individuals have not been held accountable, and many are still in their posts.

"The revolutionary aspirations have not been reflected in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Fascism is an ecosystem. To bring reform, we must remove the collaborators of fascism from within the foreign ministry."

Muniruzzaman also said that Bangladesh's foreign policy should reflect the spirit of the July uprising and the values of a new Bangladesh.

M Humayun Kabir, a diplomat and president of the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute, said, "We remain unstable internally and tend to use foreign powers to serve partisan interests. This undermines consistency in foreign policy and jeopardises national security."

Pointing to the growing shift toward a bipolar world, he added, "It's becoming increasingly hard to distinguish friend from foe. That's why internal cohesion and national consensus are more important than ever."

Humayun Kabir also stressed that Bangladesh is not investing enough in diplomacy and defence. He warned, "Without strengthening these sectors, our survival as a state could be at risk."

He strongly called for a full review of the country's foreign policy. 

"You might be surprised to know that in the 54 years since our independence, there have only been two major changes in our foreign policy," he said. "In contrast, the United States reviews its foreign and defence policies every four years."

Mahdi Amin, adviser to the acting chairman of BNP, said, "Under the autocratic rule of Sheikh Hasina, we have witnessed a submissive foreign policy that compromised Bangladesh's sovereignty. This is due to the absence of accountability within the state."

Criticising the current government's foreign policy, he said, "This government doesn't have any mandate but has the support of political stakeholders. But how they govern has not reflected that support—they have not consulted any stakeholders when making decisions that are very important to foreign policy."

He added that if the BNP comes to power, it would follow a foreign policy based on national consensus and inclusive consultation.

Career diplomat Shahidul Islam said, "Since the July uprising, there has been a public demand to disclose all treaties between India and Bangladesh. This should be done urgently."

Parvez Karim Abbasi, executive director of Centre for Governance Studies, said, "We have to balance our relations with the US and China carefully and equally."

Political analyst Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah urged breaking the taboo around Bangladesh's relationship with Israel.

However, Ambassador Munshi Faiz Ahmed said, "The political parties in Bangladesh rightly did not establish a relationship with Israel. Now, it's impossible for us because they are committing genocide."

The event was moderated by Centre for Governance Studies President Zillur Rahman. 

Others who spoke included BNP Chairperson's Advisory Council member Zahir Uddin Swapon; Jatiya Party Secretary General Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary; AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju; former state minister for Foreign Affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury; and Ganosanhati Andolan Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki.