BNP’s foreign policy won’t be based on a country: Tarique’s adviser Humayun Kabir

 Humayun Kabir, foreign affairs adviser to BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, was born in Sylhet and holds degrees from the University of Sussex, London School of Economics, Cambridge, and Leeds.

He worked in the UK Cabinet Office under Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak. He attended the London meeting between Tarique  and CA Yunus and said that if BNP comes to power, Tarique  will be the next prime minister and will return home once the election schedule is announced. Recently, he spoke with Akram Hossen of The Business Standard about Bangladesh's politics and BNP's international policy. 

The Awami League government fell on 5 August last year. How do you view the political situation since then?

The situation is improving with elections announced for February. Many have sacrificed their lives for elections, which are a people's right that was previously taken away. The people ousted Hasina to restore democracy. In June, Tarique  met the chief adviser, and now the election announcement marks a milestone as the country moves toward a democratic system.

What will be BNP's foreign policy?

BNP's foreign policy will not depend on any single country. Relying on one country makes the policy weak and costs a nation its independence — it makes you like that country's "pet dog." We saw this with Hasina's close relationship with India. Such dependence is not sustainable, and BNP will never follow it.

Instead, BNP will base its foreign policy on the national interest, putting the country and its people first. Agreeing with leaders like Trump on some issues will not stop us from recognising Palestine. Any cooperation with the US, China, or others will be limited only to what we agree on — nothing more.

Tarique  leads BNP and has lived in London for a long time, but he has little presence in international forums or the media. How engaged is he globally?

Tarique  is quite active internationally, but his activities rarely appear on Facebook or in the media. Sharing photos and media releases is not his style. Diplomats and politicians from many countries regularly meet and stay in touch with him. He is now a key figure in Bangladesh's politics and is widely seen as likely to become the next prime minister of a democratic Bangladesh. Naturally, his communication has increased.

His political focus is on the people of Bangladesh. For the past 15–16 years, he has spent most of his time organising the country's people. Both diplomats and the international community have taken an interest in him. They recognise that he has led the party from abroad for 15–16 years and, after Khaleda Zia went to prison, took on the party's executive duties. Since then, he has been rebuilding the party, which has naturally drawn their attention.

Former president Ziaur Rahman founded SAARC. What is BNP's stance on it?

SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) is a valuable regional model, and we plan to engage with it to keep the balance and prevent any one country from causing instability. It promotes connectivity and shared responsibility. Through SAARC, countries can work together, especially in economic and security matters. BNP's 31-point agenda includes reactivating SAARC.

South Asia is becoming geopolitically tense. How will BNP respond?

Tarique  is a patriot whose foreign policy will focus on national interest, avoiding dependence on any one country. Now, Bangladesh will gain respect in international negotiations because its people rejected authoritarianism and stood firm. An elected government will negotiate with a clear public mandate, unlike Hasina, who lacked popular support and was easily manipulated due to her authoritarian rule.

The National Consensus Commission for reforms decided one person cannot be both party leader and prime minister. Which role will Tarique  choose?

Different parties have expressed varied opinions to the reform commission, reflecting democratic strength. Typically, in parliamentary systems, the prime minister is the party leader with a parliamentary majority and also heads the parliament. It is uncommon for the parliamentary leader not to be the party leader, but having separate individuals as party chief and prime minister is not a major issue. The party chief can still coordinate with the prime minister as needed. To avoid conflicts between party and government duties, an accountability system is necessary, often managed by specialised cabinet departments. Establishing this process and authority is important.

Tarique  is expected to be the next prime minister, but the decision will be made after the party secures a parliamentary majority in the election.

BNP aims to form a national government. Jamaat's ameer met Khaleda Zia and Tarique  in London. What role will Jamaat have in this government?

Just because it's called a national government doesn't mean everyone will be part of it. BNP is not allied with Jamaat. Jamaat acted based on their own views during the movements. We have no coalition agreement requiring Jamaat to be included in the government.

Public views BNP's 2001-2006 government negatively. What kind of governance will BNP offer if it returns to power?

People want real improvement in the country's politics. Tarique  said that if politics stays the same, no one will succeed, and we will become like the Awami League. We need to change old habits and focus on what the public wants. Winning an election does not give the right to act freely — that goes against democracy.

It has been a year since the fall of the Awami League government. Why is Tarique  still not returning to the country?

As a key leader opposing Hasina, Tarique  faces serious security risks both inside and outside the country. The government must ensure his safety, preventing incidents like that of Benazir Bhutto.