Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon has warned against what he described as attempts to create “artificial regional narratives,” saying such efforts would be viewed with suspicion if they bypass the collective strength of the South Asian region.
Speaking at a discussion titled “Implementation of the July Charter signed for national reconstruction” at the Institution of Diploma Engineers in Kakrail on Saturday morning, the minister said Bangladesh’s foreign and regional policy framework must remain anchored in established multilateral platforms.
“If any attempt is made to create an artificial regional narrative by relying on any force other than uniting the 2.2 billion people of SAARC, it will be viewed with suspicion,” he said.
The event, organized by the newly formed platform “Amra Bangladeshi”, was held under the slogan “Bangladesh First”, focusing on state reconstruction initiatives.
Reiterating his stance on cultural and historical identity, Swapon said Bangladeshi nationalism remains the core of the country’s cultural and historical uniqueness, arguing that linguistic commonality alone does not erase deeper historical distinctions.
He also underscored that cultural identity within Bangladesh’s 56,000 square miles does not require external validation, stating that no Bangali within the territory needs to seek certification of identity from beyond the border.
Referring to historical evolution in the region, the minister said the spread of Buddhism and later Islam contributed to shaping a distinct cultural identity, which he described as the foundation of Bangladeshi nationalism. He credited late president Ziaur Rahman with formally articulating and structuring this ideological framework.
Swapan also said political polarization surrounding the Liberation War had been “artificially constructed” in the past but was now being dismantled under the leadership of Tarique Rahman.
He claimed that a historic mass uprising on August 5 had determined the country’s political future and that attempts to distort history or manufacture leadership narratives would ultimately fail.
He also said that efforts to sideline voters from the electoral process had been defeated, referring to the February 12 election as “unprecedented and acceptable”, adding that the current government now operates on a “clear public mandate”.
The minister said the country’s parliament was currently functioning in a more “effective and vibrant” manner than at any previous time.
The meeting was chaired by BNP leader Syed Ehsanul Huda and conducted by Tamiz Uddin Titu.