Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir on Saturday said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will visit India if necessary and if a conducive environment exists, but stressed that Bangladesh will henceforth decide all foreign visits based strictly on national interest.
Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, he said decisions on foreign trips will no longer be influenced externally and will be made independently by the government.
“The Prime Minister will visit India if necessary and if the environment is conducive,” Kobir said, adding that all foreign visit decisions will be guided by bilateral needs and national interest.
He said Bangladesh is now pursuing a fully sovereign foreign policy in which engagement with global partners is determined by practical priorities rather than external pressure.
“When we feel a visit is necessary based on bilateral understanding, only then will we decide which country to go to,” he said.
Responding to questions on possible visits to major countries including the United States, China and India, Kobir said Bangladesh will travel abroad whenever required and under suitable circumstances.
“When we need to go to the United States, we will go. When it is necessary to go to China, we will go there. If time and situation are favorable and needed, we will also go to India and the Middle East. Everything will be decided based on national interest,” he said.
“No one else will decide where we go. We are a legitimate government with a mandate from the people. We do not have to act to please anyone,” he added.
He further said Bangladesh’s foreign policy is not influenced by any single country or external narrative, adding that the country maintains balanced relations with all major partners including Washington, Beijing, Europe and Southeast Asia.
Kobir said Bangladesh is now acting as an independent global player, focusing on strengthening its soft power based on national priorities.
On upcoming foreign visits, he said the Malaysia and China trips have been planned, with 27 and 28 officials respectively accompanying the Prime Minister.
He said the Malaysia visit is important as it will include discussions on ASEAN membership and labor market cooperation, while China remains a key development partner.
On visit expenditure, he said all costs are carefully reviewed under the Prime Minister’s supervision to ensure proper use of public funds.
“These are not wasteful visits but value-based decisions,” he said.
He also said recovering money laundered abroad is currently one of the government’s top priorities, with efforts underway in collaboration with international partners.