State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Saturday said Bangladesh would not sign any agreement with the United States or any other country unless it fully safeguards the interests of the nation and its people.
Her remarks came amid growing speculation over possible defence agreements between Bangladesh and the US, including discussions on two long-pending accords - the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA).
Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka, Shama Obaed said decisions on defence cooperation are not made by the foreign ministry alone. She explained that several relevant agencies remain involved in consultations and evaluations before any final decision is taken.
The state minister stressed that the government would only proceed with any international agreement after careful review by all concerned institutions to ensure Bangladesh’s strategic and national interests remain protected.
Recent media reports suggested that Bangladesh and the United States are moving ahead with efforts to strengthen defence cooperation and security collaboration. Diplomatic sources say GSOMIA would allow broader exchange of classified military information and improve cooperation involving US defence equipment and intelligence-sharing.
The agreement is considered a legally binding framework aimed at ensuring both governments maintain equivalent levels of security for classified information.
Shama Obaed recently visited Washington, DC, where she held meetings with senior US officials, including Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs S Paul Kapur and Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration Andrew Veprek.
During the meetings, both sides expressed satisfaction over the growing Bangladesh-US relationship and discussed cooperation in trade, energy, defence, the Rohingya crisis, Indo-Pacific issues and people-to-people ties.
The state minister also thanked the US government for continued support regarding the Rohingya issue, while both countries agreed to continue working towards the safe and sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
