Dhaka to maintain ties with all countries with dignity: Shama Obaed Islam

Dhaka will maintain ties with all countries with dignity and mutual respect, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said on Thursday, outlining the government’s foreign policy priorities under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Briefing reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka, Shama Obaed Islam said Bangladesh, as a democratic state with a renewed mandate, would move forward confidently in its international engagements.

“For a long time, our backbone was not straight. Now we have come with the people’s mandate, and we will move forward with confidence,” she said.

The state minister said the government’s diplomacy would be guided by the principle of “Bangladesh First”, placing national interests and citizens’ welfare at the centre of all foreign policy decisions. She emphasised that the newly formed government is committed to implementing its election manifesto through coordinated diplomatic efforts, with the foreign ministry playing a central role.

Highlighting institutional capacity, Shama Obaed Islam referred to the experience of the foreign minister, noting that his long career in foreign affairs and previous responsibilities in national security would strengthen the ministry’s ability to deliver results in a complex geopolitical environment.

Addressing visa restrictions imposed by several countries, she said the ministry is aware of the challenges and is actively engaging through diplomatic channels to resolve the issues. “We are examining how these issues can be addressed and how we can move forward in a constructive manner,” she said.

On the matter of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s stay in India and related diplomatic correspondence, the state minister said the issue remains under process within the ministry. “It is only the second day of our responsibilities. The process is ongoing and will continue,” she added.

Responding to a question about the interim government’s reported policy position regarding the deployment of Bangladeshi troops to Gaza, she said the issue has not yet been discussed at the political level. “Such political decisions will be discussed and taken in due course,” she said.

Regarding relations with India, China and the United States, Shama Obaed Islam said Bangladesh has issues and challenges with all countries and would address them through both bilateral and multilateral mechanisms. She reaffirmed that safeguarding national interest remains the top priority of the government.

The briefing signals Dhaka’s intention to recalibrate foreign policy engagement with a focus on sovereignty, balanced diplomacy and strategic autonomy amid shifting regional and global dynamics.