Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said that the growing multi-polarity of the global order brings with it a unique opportunity for Bangladesh. Affirming that Bangladesh’s foreign policy has been well-balanced by maintaining a neutral position at the global level, he also stated that Bangladesh would continue building good relations with its key neighbours and development partners in a bid to strengthen regional multilateralism and reduce the risk of fragmentation from the emerging competing blocs.
The minister came up with the observations at a hybrid seminar on “Changing Global Order: Securing Bangladesh’s National Interest,” organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) on June 16 at the BIISS auditorium in the capital. With Dr Momen as the Chief Guest, Ambassador Kazi Imtiaz Hossain, PAA, Chairman, BIISS, chaired the inaugural session and Major General Mohammad Maksudur Rahman, OSP, BSP, PSC, Director General, BIISS, delivered the welcome address.
Major General Mohammad Maksudur Rahman highlighted the uncertainties related to the changing nature of global order and focused on the importance of balancing the emerging realities and enhancing cooperation by minimizing competition among the great powers. He also said although Bangladesh is maintaining a good balance, the country needs to monitor international changes carefully so that it can meet new challenges that may arise due to the shift in the global order.
Ambassador Kazi Imtiaz Hossain said due to the changing global order, Bangladesh needs to establish its goals while keeping in mind its basic national interests, including stable economic growth and development. Furthermore, he observed that given such a shift in the global order, ensuring the export driven-market and retaining remittance flow needs to be given utmost priority. Bangladesh must make the best policy choices to ensure food and environmental security, including increasing domestic food production and playing a more significant role in battling climate change, he noted.
Ambassador Shamsher M. Chowdhury, BB, Former Foreign Secretary, chaired the working session and delivered his remarks. Dr. Rashed Uz Zaman, Professor, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka, presented on “Transitions in International Order: South Asian Perspective”, Dr. Nazneen Ahmed, Country Economist and Head of Policy and Strategic Advisory Unit, UNDP , Bangladesh presented on “Bangladesh’s LDC Graduation in Shifting World Order: Opportunities and Challenges”, Dr. Razia Sultana, Research Fellow, BIISS, presented on “Putting the National Interest First: Bangladesh’s Position in Changing Global Scenario”, and ASM Tarek Hassan Semul, Research Fellow, BIISS, presented on “Emerging Constellations in the Indo-Pacific: Bangladesh’s Foreign Policy Predicaments”.
Senior officials from different government ministries, members of diplomatic community, former ambassadors, senior military officials, media, academia, researchers, faculties and students from different universities, and representatives from various international organizations participated in the Seminar and they shared their valuable insights in the open discussion session.
