Foreign Minister Md Khalilur Rahman on Wednesday reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to an independent foreign policy, declaring that the country would “never again” become a client state.
He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now at the forefront of safeguarding the nation’s strategic autonomy.
Speaking at a programme at the Foreign Service Academy marking the anniversary of the July Mass Uprising, the minister said the ideals of that movement continue to shape the government’s foreign policy under the “Bangladesh First” doctrine.
“The success of the July struggle is a responsibility we must carry,” he said. “The Foreign Ministry is at the frontline of ensuring that Bangladesh never returns to the status of a client state.”
He added that the BNP government’s foreign policy has been guided from the outset by the principle of putting national interests first.
A client state is generally defined as a country that, while retaining its own government, relies heavily on a more powerful nation for military, economic, or political support, often resulting in limited independence regarding foreign policy and international decision-making.
Reflecting on the transition
Reflecting on the early days of the interim government in August 2024, when he served as national security adviser, Khalilur identified three immediate priorities the administration faced.
“In my view, we had three major challenges,” he said. These included ensuring the security of the chief adviser to prevent the transition from being derailed, maintaining government stability, and ensuring the transition culminated in a credible election.
He noted that despite numerous obstacles, the interim administration successfully met all three objectives.
‘Impossible missions’
The Foreign Minister also recounted a challenging diplomatic assignment directed by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Bangladesh had previously suspended its bid for the presidency of the United Nations General Assembly to support Palestine’s candidacy.
However, after Palestine withdrew and Cyprus became the sole remaining candidate, the prime minister instructed the Foreign Ministry to revive Bangladesh’s campaign.
Khalilur recalled telling the prime minister that he was assigning an “impossible mission”. According to the minister, the prime minister replied: “The Foreign Office is for impossible missions”.
The minister concluded that the Foreign Ministry passed this “very severe test,” an episode he believes reflects the government’s confidence in the nation’s diplomatic service and its determination to pursue ambitious objectives while advancing interests on the global stage.
